



\7JC> 



^■•^ 




HISTORY OF THE 
DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE 



ESTABLISHED 1886 



WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE 
RT. REV. MGR. J. S. M. LYNCH, S. T. D., M. R. 



STORY OF THE PARISHES 

1615 — 1909 



Edited by 
WILLIAM P. H. HEWITT 



1909 

Set Up and Printed at the 

CATHOLIC SUN PRESS, SYRACUSE, N. Y. 

WM. P. H. HEWITT. Publisher. 



+^"^6 
A,^^ 



COPYRIGHTED. 1908. 



WM. P. H. HEWITT 



©CI.A2o3G54 



INTRODUCTION 



By Right Reverend Mgr. James S. M. Lynch, S. T. D., M. R. 



IN the following pages an attempt is made to place on record 
for the future historian, a few facts touching the origin 
and growth of the various parishes in the Diocese of Syra- 
cuse. This diocese, although the last, chronologically considered, 
of the seven dioceses into which the State is divided, covers a ter- 
ritory where the Catholic Church in the State of New York and 
even in the United States saw its first beginnings. Geographically 
it occupies the very center of the Empire State, and the Epis- 
copal See is located in what is called the Central City. Frequent 
efforts, indeed, have been made from time to time to transfer the 
capital from Albany to Syracuse, as the most natural and con- 
venient location, on account of its central position. At the east- 
ern end of the diocese ends that magnificent Mohawk Valley, 
which stretches out from Schenectady for a distance of seventy 
or eighty miles — a valley hallowed by religious and historical 
traditions and presenting such a charming and picturesque pano- 
rama as to make it celebrated throughout the whole country, if 
not throughout the world. At its northern boundary stands the 
gate of the famous Adirondack Wilderness, or North Woods, 
which illustrious physicians look upon as the future sanitarium 
of the world. In its northwest corner flows Ontario, bearing on 
its bosom the mighty waters of all the Great Lakes, washing the 
shores of the diocese for a little ways, and then emptying into the 
magnificent St. Lawrence and circling through the famous Thou- 
sand Islands, and dashing in rapids after rapids on its way to 
the sea. 

The Erie Canal, that great artery of commerce, pierces the 
diocese from one end to the other and the thousand-ton barge 



6 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

canal, which is now being built, will link its beautiful inland 
lakes, Oneida and Onondaga, with the artificial trench and facili- 
tate the means of communication between the different parts of 
the diocese. Its network of railroads binds still more closely the 
seven counties into which the diocese is divided. 

From a patriotic standpoint the diocese glories in the fact that 
the millions of travelers that pass year by year from the metropo- 
lis of the country to the great West, have pointed out to them 
within its territory as they speed by, the memorial shaft that 
marks the site of the Battle of Oriskany — that decisive conflict 
in our Revolutionary War. A little farther on is the site of Fort 
Stanwix, almost on the very spot where St. Peter's Church, 
Rome, now stands and there they see the tablet which keeps in 
memoiy the place where the Stare and Stripes were for the first 
time, in our revolutionary struggle, flaunted in the face of the 
enemy. 

Oswego, too, is replete with interest to the .student of Ameri- 
can history. Always coveted as a vantage ground, it played a 
most important part, especially in the French and Indian war 
and King George's war, and its capture by General Montcalm in 
the former, and again by the British in the War of 1812 
were events of no ordinary importance. Its good harbor was 
always an attraction to the combatants, and the peaceful lake 
that flows so harmlessly by the Flour City to-day was the theater 
of most decisive and important naval maneouvere a century a^o. 

At the southern extremity of the diocese, through the beautiful 
Parlor City, flows the historic Susquehanna, and further on along 
its banks lies that fertile valley, the scene of the dreadful mas- 
sacre of Wyoming in 1778 — the crowning infamy of British rule 
in America — a tragedy which was so terribly avenged a year later 
by General Sullivan upon the Six Nations, who, with some Eng- 
lish soldiers, had committed the atrocity. 

The lovere of fiction, too, must come to the Diocese of Syracuse 
to ''find the Path" traced out by our great American novelist, in 
what literary critics place at the head of the "Leather Stocking 
Series," and what he himself looked upon as the best of all his 
works. Here they may visit those shady nooks and quiet spots 
made famous by Cooper, albeit "the light has broken into the 
wilderness and the rays of the sun have penetrated to tens of 



INTRODUCTION. 7 

thousands of beautiful valleys and plains, that then lay in grate- 
ful shade." 

The Church Among the Indians. 

There are two distinct periods in the growth of the Church 
within the territory comprised within the limits of the present 
Diocese of Syracuse. The first is the Missionary period among 
the Indians. It is a matter of history that this portion of the 
State was first occupied by certain tribes of the North American 
Indians. It is very probable that these Indians originally came 
from Asia and Tartary across Bering Straits to America. In 
the region extending from Albany to the western portion of the 
State were located five distinct nations, that went by the generic 
name of the Iroquois. The country of the Iroquois, with its lakes 
and rivers and forests and plains, was most delightful and attrac- 
tive and well adapted for hunting-grounds for this nomadic race. 
These five tribes were joined together in what was called by them- 
selves and the French ' ' A Long House, ' '* and by the English the 
League of the Five Nations, viz. : The MohaAvks, the Oneidas, 
the Onondagas, the Seneeas and the Cayugas, and they occupied 
lands in the order named along the MohaAvk River and the four 
lakes from which they took their names, thus holding the water- 
ways connecting the Hudson and the Ohio with the Great Lakes. 

The Iroquois were the craftiest, most daring and most intelli- 
gent — the bravest, fiercest and most warlike of all the North 
American Indians. They were called the "Romans of the New 
"World," and though still in the savage hunter state, they were 
the terror of every native band east of the Mississippi, before the 
coming of the whites, who in turn learned to dread their fero- 
cious power. What is remarkable is that the population of the 
entire group was not over 25,000 (of whom one-tenth only were 
warriors), a comparatively small number considering the active 
part they played in American history and the control which they 
exercised through wide tracts of wilderness. Lossing thus beau- 
tifully describes this remarkable people: "The mighty fraction 
of the great Republic of the West — this populous, wealthy and 



*The Five Nations proper, called "cabin builders" because of their singular 
«klll in framing houses, gave to the stretch of land occupied by them In New 
York State, the name "long house," the eastern door of which was guarded by 
the fierce and warlike Mohawks, where the river of the same name empties into 
the Hudson, while the western door was guarded by the Seneeas, the roost 
numerous and skilful of them all, located on Lake Erie. 



8 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

powerful State— had its birth two centuries and three-quarters 
ago on the little island of Mannahatta or Manhattan, lying where 
the fresh waters of the Hudson River lovingly commingle with 
the brine of the Atlantic Ocean. Around the cradle in which the 
infant empire was rocked stood in wonder and awe representa- 
tives of an ancient race, dusky and barbarous in aspect, whose 
early history is involved in hopeless obscurity of myth and fable. 
At the same time there was a barbaric republic in the wilderness, 
simple, pure and powerful ; its capital seated a hundred leagues 
from the sea, among the beautiful hills and shadowy forests and 
sunny savannas, ^\^thin the present domain of the State of New 
York. The existence of this republic was unknown to the nations 
beyond the Atlantic and unsuspected by them until Cartier sailed 
up the St. Lawrence River, until Champlain penetrated the 
wilderness of Northern New York, and Hudson voyaged up the 
beautiful river that bears his name, and touched the eastern bor- 
der of this marvelous amphictyonic league, known in history as 
' The Iroquois Confederacy. ' 

"The polity of the Iroquois League was as purely democratic 
as possible in spirit, but it took the representative or republican 
form for convenience. Each canton or nation was a distinct re- 
public, independent of all others in relation to its domestic af- 
fairs, but each was bound to the others of the league by ties of 
honor and general interest. The league had a president, clothed 
with powers similar to those conferred on the Chief ^Magistrate 
of the United States. He had authority to assemble a congress of 
representatives of the league. He had a cabinet of six advisers, 
and in the Grand Council he was moderator." 

Here it should be recorded that the first chosen president of the 
league was the venerable Ato-tao-ho. a famous Onondaga chief. 
The "inalienable rights of man" were held in such reverence 
that the Iroquois never made slaves of their fellow men, not even 
of captives taken in war. By unity they were made powerful, 
and to prevent degeneracy, members of a tribe were not allowed 
to intermarry with e^eh other. With these barbarians woman 
was man's eo- worker in legislation, a thing not yet known among 
civilized people. Women had a right to sit in the councils, and 
held and exercised the veto power on the subject of a declaration 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

of war. They had authority to demand a cessation of hostilities 
and they were eminently peace-makers. 

Worthy, indeed, of study, is the form of government of this 
barbaric republic of the forest that once existed within the terri- 
tory of the present Diocese of Syracuse. Indeed, may it not be 
true what Dr. Golden in his "History of the Five Indian Na- 
tions" asserts "that the present state of the Indian nation exactly 
shows the most ancient and original condition of almost every 
nation, so I believe here we may, with more certainty, see the 
original forms of all governments than in the most curious specu- 
lations of the learned. ' ' 

The Onondagas were the central nation of the Iroquois and not 
far from the present Episcopal city, on Indian Hill between the 
ravines formed by the west and middle branches of Limestone 
Creek, in the town of Pompey, about two miles south of Manlius, 
was the seat of government for the entire League of the Five 
Nations. The Oneidas dwelt first on the southern shore of Oneida 
Lake, and afterwards near what is now Oneida Castle. 

It is difficult to say with certainty who were the first mission- 
aries among the Indians in Central New York. Champlain 
founded Quebec, July 3, 1608. His object being the conversion 
of the natives, he gained the friendship of the Algonquin tribes on 
the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers, and then opened trade with 
the Hurons, Indians of a different race, dwelling near the lake 
that now bears their name. The latter French settlement prospered 
and in 1614 Champlain obtained from France four Franciscan 
Fathers of the Recollect Reform to minister to the French settlers 
and to convert the natives. These Fathers arrived at Tadoussac, 
Canada, on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 1615. The 
Recollects soon learned the two great languages of Canada, the 
Algonquin and Huron, and preached the Gospel far and wide. 
Father Joseph le Caron, embarking with some canoes of the 
Hurons, penetrated to the villages of that nation. 

When Champlain reached Quebec, after his third voyage to 
France, he found Hurons, Algonquins and Montagnais waiting 
for him to go on a great expedition of war into the heart of the 
Iroquois country. Champlain, with his Indian allies, started in 
canoes up the River St. Lawrence in September, 1615. While 
Champlain 's motive in attacking the Iroquois was no doubt an 

^ 2 



10 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

endeavor to cultivate the friendship of his Algonquin and Huron 
neighbors, yet by so doing, he secured for New France a savage 
enmity, which contributed more than any other one cause to 
cripple its energies and render it at last an easy prey to the rival 
power of the English colonies. "When they reached Lake Ontario 
they crossed over to the southern shore of the lake, concealed their 
canoes in the weeds and underbrush along the beach, and started 
overland to a fortified town of the Iroquois. Marshall maintains 
that this town was on Onondaga Lake. Clark and Shea contend 
that it was a few miles south of the east end of Oneida Lake. 
It is a historical fact that missionaries always accompanied the 
early explorers on all their important expeditions as they were 
more anxious and zealous for the salvation of souls than the ex- 
plorers were to discover a northwest passage to the wealth of the 
Indies, which was the object of most of the expeditions of those 
times. It is therefore very probable that some of the Recollect 
Fathers visited the territory of the present Diocese of Syracuse 
and offered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass within its limits on 
the shores of Onondaga or Oneida lakes and perhaps in what is 
now Oswego, as early as 1615, five years before the Pilgrim 
Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock and six years before a perma- 
nent settlement was established on Manhattan Island by the 
Dutch West India Company, who received from Holland the 
charter of New Netherlands. 

The Recollect Fathers soon found that the field was too vast for 
them, and they invited the Jesuit Fathers to join them in their 
work of evangelization, and in 1625 Fathers Charles Lalemant, 
Enemond Masse and John de Brebeuf of the Society of Jesus ar- 
rived from France. While the Recollect Fathers had up to this 
time evangelized only the Algonquins and Hurons, they now ex- 
tended their missions. 

Father Joseph de la Roche Daillon, a Recollect Father of noble 
family, set out in the autumn of 1626 from the Huron country 
for the towns of the Neuter Nation, who occupied both banks of 
the Niagara, and reached their frontier nearest to the Senecas. 
According to Gilmary Shea this zealous religious was the first 
Catholic priest from Canada who penetrated into the present ter- 
ritory of the United States. But these first missions among the 
North American Indians were short-lived. When England finally 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

restored Canada to France in 1632, Cardinal Richelieu offered 
the Canadian mission to the Capuchins, but the field was so vast 
that they declined to undertake the work. The great Cardinal 
then summoned to the task the Society of Jesus, excluding the 
Recollects entirely. 

The mission in Canada, under the direction of the Jesuits, 
began with the landing at Quebec, July 15, 1632, of Fathers Paul 
le Jeune and Anne de Noue, with a lay brother named Gilbert. 
The Jesuits resumed the missions begun by the Recollects on the 
St. Lawrence and on the banks of Lake Huron, in which members 
of their own Order had already labored. Father le Jeune was the 
Superior and at once devoted himself to learning the language 
and customs of the savages, and so studying the enormous field 
before him as intelligently to dispose of his meager forces. The 
Sulpicians from Montreal about the same time established a great 
mission at Oswegatchie, now the city of Ogdensburg. Father 
Isaac Jogues of the Society of Jesus, one of the two pioneer 
priests of Michigan, was the first actual missionary among the 
Iroquois of the State of New York. Returning to the Huron 
country from Quebec, August 1, 1642, he was captured by the 
Mohawks and subjected to frightful tortures, especially at Osser- 
nenon, now Auriesville. By the aid of the Dutch he finally 
escaped to New York and returned to France. Father Jogues, 
honored in France as a martyr of Christ, had but one desire 
■ — to return to his mission among the Iroquois. He sailed from 
Rochelle, France, in the spring of 1644 and was stationed in 
Montreal. In May, 1646, Father Jogues was sent to the 
Mohawk country to have a treaty of peace with the French 
and their Indian allies, the Hurons and Algonquins, ratified. 
He returned to Canada and the foundation of a Mohawk mis- 
sion was decided upon in order to cement the peace between 
the Mohawks and their old enemies. It was to be called 
the "Mission of the Martyrs" on account of the many Christians 
already put to death by the Mohawks and because many more 
martyrs would probably be sent to heaven before this savage race 
would be converted to God. Father Jogues again set out on his 
dangerous mission, but before he arrived the Mohawks had re- 
solved to renew the war, and the courageous priest fell into their 
hands. His head was cut off and set up on one of the palisades 



12 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

of Ossernenon, and his body was thrown into the Mohawk. So 
ended this new attempt of the Church in Canada to start its work 
of evangelization over any part of this section of the State of 
New York. Father Jogues died without the consolation of once 
offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on the banks of the 
Mohawk, although he visited different villages and baptized about 
seventy during the period of his captivity. It is probable that 
he passed through the Onondaga country on his way from Can- 
ada to Auriesville, but history is silent on the point. 

Father Simon le Moyne is the real founder of the Catholic 
Church in the present Diocese of Syracuse. He voluntarily 
undertook the task that had cost Father Jogues his life and was 
sent as an envoy of peace to the savage Iroquois. He started 
from Montreal with his Onondaga guides, July 17, 1654. The 
heroic missionary disembarked at a fishing village on Lake On- 
tario and traveled overland to Onondaga, the Indian village, and 
in every place through which they passed the Christian Hurons 
gathered around the missionary to receive from him his blessing 
and the sacraments of which they had been deprived for years. 
On August 10th a council was held at which all the natives of the 
Iroquois except the Mohawks were represented. Father le Moyne 
told them that the missionaries desired to come and instruct them 
in the faith. A celebrated Onondaga chief replied, accepting the 
offer. As a proof of his acceptance of the proposition of the 
Onondaga nation, Father le Moyne selected a site and drove a 
stake in the ground as a cornerstone of the future chapel. Thus 
was bom the Catholic Church in the territory comprised within 
the present Diocese of Syracuse. 

Fathers Joseph Chaumonot and Claude Dablon were selected 
to begin the work. They visited the salt springs which had been 
discovered by Father le Moyne and were located near Lake Gan- 
entaa (Onondaga Lake). This spot had been selected as the site 
of the proposed chapel. On Sunday, November 14, 1654, they of- 
fered up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at a temporary altar in the 
cabin of an influential Indian woman of that nation, who openly 
declared herself in favor of Christianity, and offered her cabin as 
a chapel until the Onondagas could fulfill their promise of erect- 
ing a large mission-house and chapel for the Fathers. A little 
bark chapel was soon constructed, with the assistance of the In- 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

dians, in the village of Onondaga, which was situated about 
twelve miles from the lake, two miles south of the present village 
of Manlius. ''When the Catholic world was celebrating the dedi- 
cation of the grandest temple to the Most High, St. Peter's 
Church at Rome," writes the historian, "a bark chapel was 
reared at Onondaga. " " It is true, ' ' writes Father Dablon, ' ' that 
for marble and precious metals we employed only bark, ■ As soon 
as it was erected, it was sanctified by the baptism of three chil- 
dren, to whom the way to Heaven was opened as wide beneath 
those vaults of bark as to those held over fonts beneath vaults 
fretted with gold and silver." St. John the Baptist had been 
adopted as the Patron of the mission, and it was doubtless under 
his invocation that this first chapel on the soil of New York State 
was dedicated. 

The chapel was soon too small for the converts. The sachems 
of Onondaga demanded a French settlement. Accordingly 
Father Francis le Mercier, as Superior, with three other Jesuit 
Fathers, and fifty Frenchmen, started from Quebec, May 16, 
1656. The little flotilla bore aloft a white banner on which was 
inscribed the name "Jesus," showing the object of the expedi- 
tion. They reached Onondaga Lake, July 11, 1656. The next 
day a solemn Te Deum was chanted for their safe arrival and 
possession of the country was taken in the name of Jesus Christ, 
dedicating it to Him by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. 

The site of the new French settlement, which was called St. 
Mary's of Ganentaa, was on a hill just north of the railroad 
bridge on the north side of Onondaga Lake, about midway be- 
tween the two extremities, and near two springs, one of salt and 
the other of fresh water. The ''Jesuit's Well," with its accom- 
panying salt spring, marks the spot. The missionaries afterwards 
proceeded to the Indian village of Onondaga and reared a chapel, 
a larger and more solid structure than that raised the year before. 
The missionaries also visited the Oneidas and boldly announced 
the gospel to that nation, although a plot had been formed against 
their lives. 

Such were the beginnings of the Church in what is now the 
Diocese of Syracuse. Onondaga, twelve miles from the present 
Episcopal city, was the central mission and the most flourishing. 
The old Christians and converts were so numerous there that 



14 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

three sodalities of the Blessed Virgin were established, one of On- 
ondagas, one of Hurons and one of the Neuter Nation. But these 
first missions among the Onondagas and Oneidas had but an 
ephemeral existence. The Iroquois were constantly incited against 
the French missionaries by both the Dutch and English in Al- 
bany. The Dutch were bitterly hostile to the spread of Catholic- 
ity among the Indians, and strove to poison the minds of the 
red men against the Black Gown. Protestant England seemed 
glad of the opportunity to cross swords with the Catholic Church 
in the struggle for the country of the New World. Strange, in- 
deed, are the ways of Providence. If Pope Julius II. had refused 
to grant a dispensation to Henry VIII. of England to marry his 
brother's widow, the English king was too good a Catholic at 
that time to live in incestuous concubinage, and the marriage 
would never have taken place. Later, when he became enamored 
of Anne Boleyn, Pope Clement VII., might have allowed him 
to marry her, without violating the laws of the Church, and 
England might yet have been Catholic in the seventeenth century 
and united with France in spreading the light of the true faith in 
the wilderness of New York State, instead of joining with the 
Dutch in putting every obstacle in the way of the conversion of 
the Iroquois by the French Catholic missionaries. 

And so, in spite of the heroic missionary labors of Fathers le 
Mojoie, Chaumonot and Dablon, the first Catholic mission in the 
State of New York, established near the site of our present Epis- 
copal City came to an untimely end. It had lasted from Novem- 
ber 5, 1655, to March 29, 1658, and during that period chapels 
had been erected in all the Ononodaga towns. The outlook was 
indeed discouraging. The blood of martyrs seemed to have been 
shed in vain, as no permanent foothold had been gained and no- 
where south of the St. Lawrence and the Great Lakes was the 
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass offered up. Not a single French priest 
resided at any place. But the zealous Jesuit missionaries were 
not dismayed, and we find them soon again risking their lives for 
the conversion of the savage Iroquois. 

Father James Bruyas set out from Quebec for the Oneidas. He 
reached Oneida Castle, within the limits of our diocese, and 
celebrated Mass in a chapel dedicated to St. Francis Xavier, 
on Michaelmas Day, September 29, 1667. During the year he 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

was joined by Father Julian Gamier, who soon after proceeded 
to Onondaga, where he was cordially welcomed by Garaeonthie, 
the Onondaga chief, who erected a chapel for his use, which 
was dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The conversion of this 
able Indian chief a few years later, and his baptism by Bishop 
Laval in the Cathedral of Quebec in 1670, had a wonderful 
effect in reviving the faith among the Oneidas and the Onon- 
dagas. This great Catholic chief of Onondaga, Daniel Garaeon- 
thie, stands in history as one of the most extraordinary men of 
the Iroquois League. A few years later Father Milet converted 
the great chiefs of the Oneidas at Oneida Castle, and this gave 
new hope to the heroic missionaries in their seemingly impossible 
task of converting the Iroquois. Here it ought to be noted to the 
credit of Onondaga, near the site of our Episcopal See, that even 
when the Iroquois openly made war on the French and the mis- 
sionaries of that nation were no longer safe, and even when 
Father Milet was obliged to leave Oneida, the lamp of faith 
was kept burning to the very last in their capital. "The 
Catholic missions among the Five Nations were suspended in 
1684," writes the historian, "except at Onondaga, where the two 
brothers in blood and religion. Fathers John and James de Lam- 
berville, still maintained their chapel. ' ' But after 1668 the con- 
verts were subjected to so many annoyances and dangers that 
isolation was thought essential and there was established for them 
near Montreal the palisaded Mission of St. Francis Xavier, 
known in our days as Caughnawaga. The depletion of the Iro- 
quois population alarmed the sachems of the Confederacy. But 
just at the moment which seemed to mark the final destruction of 
the Catholic Missions among the Iroquois, a gleam of hope seemed 
to give promise of their renewed life. 

James II. ascended the throne of England in 1685 and openly 
professed the Catholic faith and made strenuous efforts to give 
back to Mary the dowry of which she had been robbed. While he 
was yet Duke of York, in 1682, he had appointed Colonel Thomas 
Dongan Governor of the Colony of New York. Colonel Dongan 
was an Irishman and a Catholic — the first Catholic Governor of 
New York. He presided over the first representative assembly 
of New York Province, which gave us the Charter of Liberties, 



16 DIOCESE OF SYKACUSE. 

which had so much to do with the rise and development of free 
institutions on this continent. 

Loyal to his faith and country alike, he sought to preserve and 
perpetuate the Catholic Missions among the Iroquois, without 
strengthening French influence in the colony. In the same spirit 
in which like problems have been happily setttled in our own 
days in the Philippine Islands and in Porto Rico, with true states- 
man-like grasp, he realized that it was possible for a conquered 
people to give up their sovereign allegiance, without giving up 
their religion. For this purpose he brought over with him three 
English priests, viz. : Thomas Harvey, Charles Gage and Henry 
Harrison— all members of that great Society of Jesus, which 
knows no nationality. He entrusted to these Fathers the task of 
continuing the work of their saintly Brethren in Religion, and 
keeping alive those missions which had been founded in the blood 
of martyrs. He established a Latin school in New York City and 
placed it in charge of these English Jesuits. He planned that for 
the maintenance of this school King's farm would be appro- 
priated, the site of which is just a little distance from the old 
limits of the city — about where Canal street now stands. This 
farm became in 1705 the property of Trinity Church. 

Governor Dongan also prevailed upon the Catholic Indians, 
who had gone to Canada, to return, and he petitioned the King of 
England to send him a sufficient number of priests to live in the 
ten or twelve castles which the Iroquois had built, and minister 
to their spiritual needs. He asked the King also to allow him to 
donate a large tract of land to the Indians, on the present site of 
Saratoga. He promised to build a church for them on this reser- 
vation, which would be a kind of headquarters for the Catholic 
Indians of the Five Nations. He planned also to establish a set- 
tlement of Irish Catholics in the interior of the State, on one of 
the inland lakes — very likely somewhere in the limits of the pres- 
ent Diocese of Syracuse. The new colony was to be brought over 
by his own nephew, Richard Talbot. 

James II., who was already tottering on his throne, refused to 
grant these pious requests. It may be that he feared that the 
Protestant element, which M^as already opposing him, would be 
more embittered by any action of this kind, so favorable to the 
spread of the Catholic religion in America. Governor Dongan, 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

discourag'ed by this refusal and harassed on all sides by his re- 
lentless enemies, was finally forced to resign in 1688 and he 
returned impoverished and broken hearted to England. But 
when Dongan fell, fell also all hope of liberty for Catholic wor- 
ship in the colony of New York, and the hope was expressed at 
the time of his downfall, "that Papists would not henceforth 
come so freely to settle in the colony." Nor was this liberty of 
conscience to be regained except at the price of blood shed upon 
the altar of patriotism. 

How a single misfortune sometimes changes the whole current 
of a people 's history ! If James II. had succeeded in vanquishing 
his son-in-law, who usurped his throne, instead of being driven 
into exile into France, and if, peacefully reigning, he had sec- 
onded the wise projects of Governor Dongan for the spiritual 
betterment of the Catholics among the Iroquois, there would have 
been no break to record in the history of the Diocese of Syracuse. 
The redmen of this wilderness of long ago would have kept the 
lamp of faith burning under the direction of English as of 
French Jesuits, and would have passed it on to the whites, who 
took their place in the natural march of civilization, and the 
Catholic Church in the Diocese of Syracuse would have had one 
continued existence from the days of Father le Moyne to our own. 
The heroic missionaries were loth to leave and hoped even against 
hope to succeed in the face of so many difficulties. 

Father James de Lamberville remained amid a thousand dan- 
gers until he was recalled in 1686. We find him later among the 
Mohawks where he had the consolation of baptizing on Easter 
Sunday Catharine Tegakouita, the Lily of the Mohawks, some- 
times called "the Genevieve of Canada." The introduction of 
the cause of her canonization with those of Father Jogues and 
Rene Goupil w^as solicited from the Holy See by the Fathers of 
the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, and is now in progress 
in Rome. The elder brother was obliged to leave soon after. The 
missions of the Society of Jesus among the five Iroquois nations, 
begun with the tortures of the saintly Isaac Jogues and main- 
tained amid disheartening opposition for forty years, closed vir- 
tually with the noble retirement of Father John de Lamberville. 
Though these missioners did not increase the Church Militant on 
earth, their great success was with the sick and dying, and the 



18 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

fact that according to the records preserved, the baptisms of 
adults and infants from 1668 to 1678 amounted to 2,221, shows 
that they added considerably to the numbers of the Church 
Triumphant. In 1690 only one Catholic missionary was in the 
land of the Iroquois, and he was then, as the first had been, a 
prisoner. 

Father Milet, after the evacuation of Niagara, was stationed at 
Catarokouy, where his knowledge of the Iroquois character and 
language was reckoned upon as a means of drawing the cantons 
to peace. The missionary was captured by the Onondagas in 1689, 
and finally given up to the Oneidas, where he was held as a pris- 
oner. In 1702 a last and equally futile attempt was made to re- 
vive the faith among the Oneidas and the Onondagas. The aged 
Father James de Lamberville was sent to Onondaga and arrived 
early in October, 1702. We find also among the missionaries the 
names of Father Bruyas, Gamier, Le Vaillant and Peter de 
Mareuil. The Jesuit missions in these parts were again restored 
and maintained during several years. For though England and 
France were at war, the savage Iroquois maintained strict neu- 
trality, and that fierce nation remained at peace while civilized 
men were warring around them. 

But again the faith of Christ had to encounter an opposition 
stronger than the antipathy of the red men of the forest. Eng- 
land again showed her hatred of the Catholic Church. She was 
determined to put a stop, if possible, to the spread of the Catholic 
religion in the New World. Governor Bellemont of New York 
had in 1700 secured the passage of a law by the New York Colo- 
nial Legislature for punishing with perpetual imprisonment any 
priest remaining in the Province or coming in after November 1, 
1700, and any priest who escaped from his dungeon was liable to 
the penalty of death if he was retaken. To harbor a Catholic 
priest was to incur a fine of 250 pounds and to stand in the pil- 
lory for three days. 

In 1709 Colonel Schuyler visited Onondaga, and while profess- 
ing the greatest friendship for 'the missionaries, persuaded the 
veteran Father James de Lamberville to return to Quebec, and by 
stratagem induced Father Peter de Mareuil, the last of the heroic 
band of missionaries, to accompany him to Albany, where he was 
arrested by the Colonial government and detained as a prisoner 



INTRODUCTION. 19 

until 1710. The Onondaga mission was thus finally broken up, the 
church and residence were reduced to ashes, the missionaries had 
been lured away by deceit and never returned. Thus finally 
closed the Jesuit missions among the Five Nations in their own 
territory. Here it ought to be noted that about the year 1712, 
an important event occurred in the history of the Iroquois. 

The Five Nations became the Six Nations. The Tuscaroras, a 
powerful tribe in North Carolina, had become involved in a war 
with the whites, originating in a dispute about land. The colon- 
ists were aided by other tribes and the Tuscaroras were defeated, 
many of them being killed and others captured and sold as slaves. 
The greater part of the remainder fled to the Iroquois, with whom 
there was a kinship. They were immediately adopted as one of 
the tribes of the confederacy, and they were assigned a seat near 
the Oneidas. They became the Sixth Nation. 

Thereafter the Jesuits were chiefly devoted to their mission in 
the village of Sault Saint Louis, near Montreal, now known as 
Caughnawaga, whither many Iroquois retreated before the in- 
roads of Dutch and English settlers, who were now crowding 
upon their lands. But the Oneidas and the Onondagas saw with 
regret their children dying without medicine, and what was 
worse, without baptism, and they longed to see the Black Gowns 
again. Their faith was not dead, but slumbering. It needed 
but a zealous apostle of Christ to fan it once more into flame. 
Abbe Francis Piquet, a Sulpician Father, established a mission at 
Fort Presentation on the site of the present city of Ogdensburg, 
He built there a new Iroquois town — their banner still preserved, 
bears the totems of the Iroquois clans, the bear, the wolf and the 
turtle, their council-fires and the monogram of Christ. This zeal- 
ous apostle, like the Jesuits of old, traversed again the forests and 
lakes of our diocese and invited the brave Iroquois to come to the 
new mission. So successful were his efforts that in two years 
there had gathered around the altar of the Presentation over 
3,000 souls, drawn chiefly from Onondaga and Caynga. Bishop 
Du Breuil de Pontbriand, of Quebec, visited the mission in May, 
1752. He baptized one hundred and twenty and confirmed a 
large number. This was undoubtedly the first Confirmation 
administered within the limits of the State of New York, and to 
the honor of the Diocese of Syracuse, it is recorded that the 



20 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Sacrament Avas administered chiefly to the spiritual children of 
Father le Moyne from Onondaga. 

Thus is shown the continuity of the Catholic Church in Central 
New York. Ogdensburg is the link in the chain which binds the 
Church of Syracuse of the seventeenth to the Church of Syracuse 
in the nineteenth century. The Church of Syracuse was for a 
time removed to our northern frontier, and the lamp of faith 
was kept burning among the converts of the Onondagas, albeit 
obliged to worship God far from home on the banks of that great 
river up which the first missionaries had sailed to kindle the flame 
of faith among their fathers. 

But soon war began which was to close the French power on 
this continent and the mission of Ogdensburg for the Oneidas 
and the Onondagas was finally abandoned in 1760. 

A council of all the Six Nations was held at Fort Stanwix 
(Rome) in 1784, where a treaty was made which gave to each 
Nation a certain reservation of territory, excepting the Mohawks, 
who decided to settle in Canada. The Oneidas afterward sold 
their lands and removed to Wisconsin, where, in 1890, they still 
numlDered 1,710. 

In 1788 another treaty was consummated between the Onon- 
dagas and the State of New York by which the Indians relin- 
quished all title to their lands, excepting a tract about ten miles 
square, around their castles. They also* surrendered all right to 
the salt springs on their reservation, for which they received an 
annuity. In 1890 the aggregate population of the Iroquois, in- 
cluding Canada, was 15,870, showing a decided increase on 
former estimates. 

The Onondagas now number about 500 and of these rather 
more than a half are reckoned Christians. There are scarcely 
any Catholics among them. A few belong to the various Protes- 
tant denominations. The greater part are Methodists and quite 
a number are Episcopalians. Their present reservation territory 
near Syracuse has been reduced to 6.000 acres. They receive an 
annuity of $1,600 from the State. 

The problem of their future condition, so long as their great 
land holdings excite the envy and thirst of outsiders, is yet to be 
solved by some peaceful adjustment of their relations to the 
neighboring white settlers. At present they constitute in fact a 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

regnum in regno within the State. Their own Peace-Maker's 
Courts have probate jurisdiction, and except in the matter of 
crimes and postal service, they are independent of State and 
county authorities. 

For a fuller account of the Jesuit Missions among the Iroquois 
the reader is referred to what is called the Jesuit Relations. 
What is generally known as the Relations proper, addressed to 
the Superior and published in Paris under the direction of the 
Provincial, commence with Father le Jeune's "Brieve Relation 
du Voyage de la Nouvelle France" in 1632. Thereafter a duo- 
decimo volume, neatly printed and bound in vellum, was issued 
annually until 1673, when the series was discontinued. This 
valuable mine of American History, together with allied docu- 
ments, covering a period from 1610 to 1791, and comprising 
seventy-three volumes, has been edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites, 
Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, and pub- 
lished in 1896 by Burrows Brothers Co. of Cleveland, Ohio. 

The Church Among the Whites. 

1784—1908. 

THE second chapter in the history of the Diocese of Syracuse 
tells the story of the propagation of the Church among 
the white men, within its territory. Less than a quarter 
of a century after the final destruction of the missions among the 
Indians in New York State, the first white settler, Ephraim Web- 
ster, after having served in the Revolutionary War to its close, 
came to Oriskany, within the limits of the present Diocese of 
Syracuse. After a residence of two years in that village, he re- 
moved to Syracuse and took up his abode on the west side of 
Onondaga Creek, near where it empties into the lake, at a place 
which was formerly called ''Webster's Landing." Gradually a 
few Catholics followed the example of this bold Protestant white 
settler. The first immigrants were from Ireland and with 
their well known attachment to the faith, they clung to their 
religious practices — even without priest or altar — as they had 
learned to do in their native land. But the tyranny of the 
British government followed these hardy Irish settlers into the 
New World, whither they had fled to avoid religious persecu- 



22 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

tion. The struggles of the Church with the crown all over the 
United States during the colonial period form some of the dark- 
est pages of American History. The war against the French in 
the eighteenth century was really a war against Catholicity, and, 
as, after a few years, hostilities also broke out against Spain, 
Protestant England was arrayed in a deathly conflict with the 
two great Catholic Powers that had obtained a foothold in Amer- 
ica. These hostile movements tended to prejudice the minds of 
the people of the colonies against all who professed the Catholic 
faith. The conquest of Canada was especially sought in order to 
utterly extirpate the Catholic religion on the North American 
continent. The position of Catholics, therefore, in the English 
colonies during the eighteenth century was one of continual 
annoyance and persecution. 

Catholicity had been planted in the United States in Maryland 
by the Jesuit Fathers under Lord Baltimore in 1634. They had 
set an example of religious tolerance for the other colonies in 
striking contrast with the Puritans who had landed at Plymouth 
Rock only fourteen years previous. Bancroft, in describing the 
new colony, declares that "religious liberty obtained a home in 
Baltimore, its only home in the wide world." But in a few 
years afterward the Puritans obtained the ascendancy in the 
General Assembly and * ' popery and prelacy ' ' were forbidden by 
law. Under these circumstances the few scattered Catholics here 
and there in the broad territory of the United States were not 
welded into any distinct organization. Together with the mis- 
sionary priests who attended to their spiritual wants, they were 
under the jurisdiction of the Vicar Apostolic of London, Eng- 
land. Bishop Challoner, Vicar Apostolic of London, reported to 
the Propaganda in 1756 with reference to New York that "if 
there be any straggling Catholics in that colony, they can have no 
exercise of their religion as no priest ever comes near them, nor 
to judge by what appears to be the present disposition of the in- 
habitants are we likely to be admitted amongst them." It was 
not until 1784 that the penal laws against Catholics, after they 
had been in existence for nearly a century, were repealed by the 
New York Legislature, and the Catholic Church in the United 
States was then bom as a distinct body. Very Rev. John 
Carroll, a cousin of Charles Carroll of Carrolton, a signer of the 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

Declaration of Independence, afterwards the first Archbishop of 
Baltimore, was appointed Prefect Apostolic of the United States 
of North America by Pope Piiis VI., June 9, 1784, There was no 
diocese or hierarchy established until some years afterward. It 
goes without saying that the territory now comprised in the 
Diocese of Syracuse was then under the jurisdiction of Father 
Carroll, so that the source of the second stage in the Church's 
growth in these parts was Baltimore, as the first had been Quebec. 

The Diocese of Baltimore was established by the Holy See 
April 6, 1789, and the Catholics residing within the limits of the 
present Diocese of Syracuse became the spiritual subjects of the 
Bishop of Baltimore. But the venerable Bishop Carroll could 
claim few spiritual children in Central New York. 

John Cunningham about this time had settled in his little log 
house or salt block in Utica at the foot of what is now Genesee 
street. He is the first Catholic of the diocese of which history 
makes mention — the pioneer of that legion of Irish Catholics that 
followed in his wake and contributed to the upbuilding of the 
diocese. At that time there were not 500 Catholics in the entire 
States of New York and New Jersey, which then formed but a 
single diocese. 

How fervently our hearts should rise in thanksgiving to the 
Almighty, when we reflect on the marvelous multiplication of 
that little mustard seed then sowed in our diocese, which has now 
increased nearly one hundred and fifty thousand fold. 

But especially how grateful we should be to Heaven when we 
consider the wonderful growth of the Church in the Common- 
wealth — unparalelled, perhaps, in the annals of history, so strik- 
ingly exhibited this very year when three millions of Catholics 
in the State of New York alone joined in spirit with the Mother 
See of this Province in the enthusiastic celebration of the centen- 
ary of her birth. 

After the evacuation of New York by the British and the 
tolerance shown Catholics, especially on account of their loyalty 
in the War of the Revolution, in which they had taken such a 
prominent part, the Church came out in the open and the little 
flock of Catholics became much more numerous. Baltimore was 
created an archdiocese April 8, 1808, and the Diocese of New 
York was erected as one of its suffragan Sees. Father Luke Con- 



24 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

canen, then in Rome, a Dominican, over seventy years of age, was 
appointed to the difficult post of presiding over the new diocese. 
But as he could not embark from Leghorn (Livorno), being a 
British subject, on account of the war between France and Eng- 
land, Father Kohlmann, a Jesuit, and subsequently Father Fen- 
Mdck, another Jesuit, afterwards Bishop of Boston, adminis- 
tered the diocese for several years. Thus by a strange coinci- 
dence, it was a Jesuit Father who planted the Church in our dio- 
cese in its first development, among the red men, and it was 
two Jesuit Fathers who first ruled over it in the second period 
of its growth among the white settlers. 

When Bishop Connolly, the successor of Bishop Concanen, 
arrived in New York in 1815, to take charge of his vast diocese, 
comprising the entire states of New York and New Jersey, he 
found a Catholic population of 13,000, 11,000 of whom were 
Irish. Father Kohlmann had already planted the Church in Al- 
bany, the future capital of this State, and Father Paul McQuaid 
was the first pastor in that city in 1813. Utica, a part of the 
present Diocese of Syracuse, was then an out-mission from Al- 
bany in charge of Father McQuaid. Utica was the real head of 
navigation on the Mohawk in those days and it was looked upon, 
even at that early period, as the future great city west of Al- 
bany'. At that time there was no priest stationed within the limits 
of the present Diocese of Syracuse. The building of the Erie 
Canal had much to do with the development of the diocese. This 
great artery of commerce, binding the sea with the Great Lakes, 
and piercing the very heart of the Empire State, was begun July 
4, 1817, and opened October 26, 1825. Graft must certainly 
have been unknown in those days when a work of such gigantic 
magnitude could have been completed in so short a time. It was 
chiefly the Irish immigrants that dug this long ditch. They prob- 
ably did not realize at the time that in the designs of Providence 
the making of this waterway was to be the means of restoring the 
Church planted among the Iroquois in these parts and conse- 
crated by the blood of martyrs. 

The Soggarth Aroon followed the Irish immigrant and as they 
dug the great ditch they saw with delight the Church of St. Pat- 
rick planted along its banks, and "building wiser than they 
knew" they laid the foundation of what is now the flourishing 



INTRODUCTION. 25 

Diocese of Syracuse. The growth of the Church was so rapid 
that it soon became impossible for the Bishop of New York to 
administer to the wants of such a multitude of people scattered 
over such an immense territory, and it became necessary to estab- 
lish a new diocese nearer the central and western portions of the 
State. 

The Diocese of Albany was established April 26, 1847, and Rt. 
Rev. John McCloskey, D. D., afterwards the first American Cardi- 
nal, was appointed its first Bishop. The territory now comprised 
within the limits of the Diocese of Syracuse was then placed 
under the jurisdiction of the Bishop of Albany. Under the able 
administration of Bishop McCloskey and his successors, Bishops 
John J. Conroy and Francis McNeirny, this western portion of 
the new diocese grew and prospered during the next forty years. 
By that time the Diocese of Albany had become too large and 
populous for the care of one Bishop, and a division seemed im- 
peratively demanded. 

The Diocese of Syracuse, comprising the counties of Broome, 
Chenango, Cortland, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga and Oswego, 
was projected by the Holy See September 12, 1886, and Rt. Rev. 
Patrick A. Ludden, D. D., was nominated Bishop-elect of the 
contemplated diocese. Father Ludden declined the honor, and 
begged the Holy Father to allow him to remain as a simple priest 
in the vineyard of the Lord. Thereupon considerable corre- 
spondence passed between Archbishop Corrigan of New York 
and the Cardinal Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of the 
Propaganda in Rome. Finally the Diocese of Syracuse was 
erected by Pope Leo XIII., November 20, 1886, and Father Lud- 
den, in spite of his emphatic refusal, was appointed the Bishop 
of the New See, December 14, 1886. He was consecrated in 
the Church of the Assumption, Syracuse, May 1, 1887. The 
consecrating prelate was Most Rev. Michael A. Corrigan, D. D., 
Archbishop of New York. The assistant conseerators were the 
Rt. Rev. Bernard J. McQuaid, D. D., Bishop of Rochester, 
and Rt. Rev Francis McNeirny, D. D., Bishop of Albany. The 
consecration sermon was preached by Rt. Rev. Michael A. Far- 
rell, D. D., Bishop of Trenton. Bishop Ludden had been rector 
of the Cathedral in Albany under Bishop McCloskey and Vicar- 
General under Bishops Conroy and McNeirny, and for seven 



26 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

years previous to his appointment as Bishop of Syracuse, he had 
been rector of St. Peter's Church, Troy, which was one of the 
largest and most important parishes in the Diocese of Albany, 
and where he had left a record of splendid work well done. As 
he was well known and beloved by all the priests of the new dio- 
cese, he received a most hearty welcome, the more earnest and 
sincere, as he was practically their unanimous choice as Chief 
Pastor. 

Under the prudent and zealous care of Bishop Ludden the Dio- 
cese of Syracuse has grown and prospered. It has only just 
passed its twenty-first birthday, and already this dreary wilder- 
ness of a hundred years ago, where nothing was heard but the 
roar of the wild beasts and the savage yells of the red men as 
they donned their war paint, grasped their tomahawks and rushed 
into deadly conflict, is now a blooming garden, and in every niche 
and comer of these wilds of the past the Holy Sacrifice of the 
Mass is offered up to the Triune God; and thousands of pious 
and devoted Catholics gather round the altar in fervent prayer. 
Churches, chapels, schools, academies, hospitals, orphan asylums 
and institutions of every kind have sprung up as if by magic, 
and the whole face of this beautiful portion of the Empire State 
shines with the marks of the spouse of Christ, to which it has 
been consecrated. 

It would seem that such protracted labors ought to have earned 
for the good Bishop a little rest in his declining years. 

And so, he felt justified in asking the Holy See for a Coadjutor 
who might relieve him from a portion of his arduous duties, and 
be ready to take his place without the work of the diocese being 
interrupted, whenever the Master might be pleased to call him to 
render an account of his stewardship. 

Our Holy Father, Pius X., cheerfully acceded to his wishes, 
and on the 9th of February, 1909, Rt. Rev. Llgr. John Grimes, 
D. D., was named as Coadjutor-Bishop of Syracuse, with the title 
of Bishop of Imeria, in partihus infidelium. 

Happy was the choice of the Supreme Pontiff. 

Born, like the Illustrious Head of the diocese, on the Island of 
Saints, whence came the builders of the Church in these parts, — 
formed, too, like him to the holy priesthood by the good Sulpician 
Fathers of Montreal, — attached during almost his entire ministry 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

to the present Cathedral to which he is now to be wedded for life 
— beloved by priests and people — uncompromising in faith, zeal- 
ous in work, vigorous in mind and body. Bishop Grimes is well 
fitted for his allotted task. 

He will be able to lend a strong hand to his venerated Superior 
in the spiritual upbuilding of the diocese, and later on, when the 
mantle falls on his shoulders, there is every reason to hope that 
he will garner a rich harvest from the good seed that both will 
now jointly sow in this portion of the Lord's vineyard in the 
years that are to come. 

Bishop Grimes was born December 18, 1852. He was ordained 
to the priesthood in Albany, N. Y., by Rt. Rev. Francis Mc- 
Neimy, Bishop of Albany, February 19, 1882. He was conse- 
crated Bishop May 16, 1909, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate 
Conception, Syracuse, by Most Rev. John M. Farley, D. D., Arch- 
bishop of New York. The assistant consecrators were Rt. Rev. 
Patrick A. Ludden, D. D., Bishop of Syracuse, and Rt. Rev. 
Thomas M. A. Burke, D. D., Bishop of Albany, The consecra- 
tion sermon was preached by the Rev. Luke M. Grace, C. M. 

When the diocese was established in 1886 there were only sixty- 
four secular and ten religious priests. There were forty-six par- 
ish and twenty mission churches and fifteen chapels, sixteen paro- 
chial schools, two academies, five orphan asylums and two hospi- 
tals. The Catholic population approximated 70,000. 

The beloved Bishop of Syracuse has just passed his majority 
as a Catholic Bishop and is about to make his decennial visit 
ad limina to the Eternal City, where for the first time he 
will kneel at the feet of the immortal Pius X. and join with 
him in the celebration of the golden jubilee of his priesthood, 
the echoes of which have not yet died out in the Christian 
world. He will be able to report on this happy occasion that 
there are now in the diocese one hundred and five diocesan 
and thirteen religious priests; seventy parish churches, thirty- 
seven mission churches and seventeen chapels; twenty-one paro- 
chial schools, of which four have complete academic departments ; 
four academies distinct from parochial schools ; five orphan asy- 
lums and two infant asylums; three Catholic hospitals and a 
Catholic population of 149,768. 

There are many causes for the remarkable growth of the Catho- 



28 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

lie population in this portion of the State. I have already men- 
tioned one, viz. : The Irish immigrant following the path of the 
Erie Canal and new villages and cities springing up along the 
new waterway, and churches dotting its banks. Besides this 
great waterway piercing our diocese from east to west, there was 
another, albeit less important and now closed, cutting it from 
north to south— the Chenango Canal, which also had a great in- 
fluence in the upbuilding of the diocese. The railroads also gave 
a great impulse to the groAvth of this part of the State and the 
splendid trolley systems, among the very best in the State, 
brought hither men of energy that contributed both in brains and 
capital to the general prosperity. Many of these, too, were Cath- 
olics and generous promoters of the faith. 

The Salt Springs of Syracuse, discovered by Father le Moyne 
in the missionary period, added very much to the wealth of these 
parts and attracted multitudes by their advantages, and when 
this investment became no longer profitable, capital found vent in 
extensive cotton and woolen mills, in foundries and factories of 
all kinds and large business establishments, all of which helped 
to swell the Catholic population of the diocese. 

It is not yet seventy years since the first railroad was opened 
in the diocese, viz. : The New York Central, between Utica and 
Syracuse, July 4, 1839 — and only thirteen years previous the 
first horse car had made its appearance in the United States. 
Afterwards came the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, the 
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg and the New York, Ontario 
and Western, the West Shore, and the Adirondack Railroads, all 
of which facilitated communication between the different parts 
of the diocese, thus helping towards its growth. 

Another cause which contributed to the growth as well as to 
the cosmopolitan character of the Catholics of the Diocese of 
Syracuse was the coming of the various nationalities at different 
periods and choosing for their home in their adopted country this 
beautiful region of the New World. The Gennans began to come 
hither in small numbers soon after the dedication of the first 
Catholic Church in the diocese, viz.: St. John's, Utica, in 1821. 
According to the official records Rev. John Lewis Wariath, at- 
tached to that church, was appointed pastor of the German Cath- 
olics of Utica, June 6, 1837, and served under the distinguished 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

Father Walter J. Quarter. Four years later, in 1841, the Utica 
German Catholic Church was organized, and its first pastor was 
Rev. John Prost. It was the first German Catholic Church be- 
tween Albany and Buffalo. The new church was served by secu- 
lar priests until April, 1859, when the Franciscan Fathers of the 
Order of Minor Conventuals took charge of the parish. This, if 
we except the Mother House at Philadelphia established the year 
before, was the first foundation of this Order in the United States. 
Afterwards they took charge of a German Catholic parish in 
Syracuse and built the handsome Assumption Church in our Epis- 
copal city. So successful were they in the financial management 
of the parishes entrusted to their care, that Assumption Church, 
Syracuse, was the only consecrated church in the diocese at its es- 
tablishment, and St. Joseph 's Church, Utica, their first charge on 
coming to the diocese, has been remodeled and handsomely deco- 
rated and was consecrated at the opening of the year 1908. 

The Franciscan Fathers have always been recognized and appre- 
ciated by the Bishop as a great help to him in the development of 
religion. They are the only Religious in the diocese, but so well 
have they done their work as auxiliaries to the secular clergy 
that there never seemed any necessity for other Religious Orders 
to share it with them. The striking harmony that has always ex- 
isted between these good Religious and the secular clergy, has 
been very conspicuous at all times, and is doubtless the cause of 
that remarkable success which has attended the united efforts of 
these twin forces of the Church in the growth and prosperity of 
the diocese. The diocese feels honored that the Mother House of 
the Order in the United States is located in our Episcopal City. 
Only recently, through the executive ability of the distinguished 
Provincial of the Order, Very Rev. Dr. Miller, 0. M. C, and the 
zealous and devoted pastor of Assumption Church, Rev. Berard 
Schweitzer, 0. M. C, their new college has been completed, where 
their future novices are to be trained. It is said to be the finest 
house of the kind in the world in possession of the Order. As an 
outgrowth of their labors among the German Catholics, several 
new German parishes have been erected in different parts of the 
diocese, and the German Catholic population now numbers about 
20,000 and is constantly increasing. 

It may seem somewhat strange that although the Church was 



30 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

planted in the diocese by French missionaries from Canada, the 
Canadian Catholics never settled in large numbers, within its 
limits. A few thousand in Syracuse and Oswego, a few hundred 
in other parts, there has been no perceptible increase in their num- 
bers since their first coming, thirty or forty years ago. The reason 
for this is easily found. It is a well known fact that the tide 
of emigration from Canada has always been towards New Eng- 
land, where their countrymen have always been more numerous, 
and where the thriving mills and factories seemed to offer to them 
the best opportunities for desirable and lucrative employment. 

The Italian immigration began with the construction of the 
West Shore Railroad in the early eighties. They have continued 
to flock thither ever since in largely increasing numbers. With 
their own banks and theaters and business houses and newspa- 
pers, they are beginning to be recognized as a very important 
factor in several of the cities of the diocese. They are principally 
found in Syracuse, Utica and Rome, and they must easily num- 
ber at present 30,000, with a steady and healthy increase con- 
stantly taking place. It is regrettable that a large number of 
these Italian immigrants are only nominal Catholics. A paro- 
chial school has been established for their children in Utica, where 
they are the most numerous, and the self-sacrificing labors of the 
good Franciscan Sisters are already beginning to show their ef- 
fect upon the rising youth. When it is possible to give all the 
Italian children the precious benefit of a good Christian educa- 
tion, there is sure to be a change in their attitude towards the 
Church, and it is to be hoped that the next generation will be 
practical Catholics and staunch supporters of the faith. Mean- 
while, it is a noteworthy fact that the various attempts that have 
been made from time to time, to proselytyze these poor children 
of Italy and rob them of their faith, have generally proved abor- 
tive and it begins to look as if further efforts in that direction 
will soon be totally abandoned. 

The Poles began to locate in the diocese about a quarter of a 
century ago. They have now large and flourishing churches and 
schools in Syracuse and Utica, with several new ones projected in 
other places. They must easily number 10,000. They have never 
given the Bishop any serious trouble, as he required them from 
the beginning to follow the wise laws of the diocese for the 



INTRODUCTION. 31 

administration of church property. The Polish Catholics are 
models of devotion to their religion. They make the most heroic 
sacrifices in order to frequent the Sacraments, and assist at Holy 
Mass. They are also remarkable for their extraordinary gener- 
osity in their contributions for church and school. Nothing but 
the strongest Catholic faith can explain how readily even the 
poorest among them part with this world 's goods to help to build 
those magnificent churches that are the wonder of other national- 
ities. 

The Lithuanians are comparatively few in number, and have 
as yet no church of their own and worship in the Polish or Ger- 
man Catholic churches, as suits them best. There are probably 
about a thousand Syrians in the diocese. They are found chiefly 
in Syracuse and Utica. They worship according to the Syro- 
Maronite Rite, and a priest of that rite visits them once or 
twice a year to minister to their spiritual wants. As a rule they 
are devout Catholics. Perversion among them seldom takes place. 
They are very faithful in attending Mass and frequent the sacra- 
ments in large numbers whenever the opportunity is afforded. 
They have a resident priest in Utica and have Mass every Sunday 
in their own rite in the Sisters' School Hall attached to St. John's 
Church. There are about 2,000 Slovak Catholics or Slavs in the 
diocese. They are found principally in Syracuse and in Bing- 
hamton. In the latter city they have a flourishing parish. 

Another important factor in the upbuilding of the diocese was 
the work of the different religious communities devoted to educa- 
tion and charity. 

The Christian Brothers have been laboring in the diocese for 
more than half a century. The golden jubilee of Assumption 
Academy, Utica, which was their first foundation and one of the 
first in the United States, was celebrated in 1904 with extraordi- 
nary pomp and splendor on the feast of the patron of their 
Order, St. John Baptist De La Salle, the Apostle of the Christian 
school. They have also a large and flourishing academy in Syra- 
cuse, and in both cities the fruits of their zealous labors in the 
training of the youth, are simply marvelous. 

The several communities of women have also done noble work 
in the diocese in the cause of religion. The Sisters of Charity 
from Emmitsburg head the roll of these heroic women. This 



32 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

year (1909) they will celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of their 
coming to the diocese. For three-quarters of a century they have 
labored in Utica and for the most of that time in Syracuse, car- 
ing for the little orphans of the diocese and building up their 
schools so as to compete with any in the country. The Sisters of 
the Third Order of St. Francis have also done exceptional work, 
especially in the hospitals which they founded in Syracuse, Utica 
and Oswego. It is the only community of Sisters whose Mother 
House is located in the diocese. But these good Sisters were not 
content to spend their lives in mere ordinary hospital work. 
When the opportunity presented they freely offered themselves 
to care for poor suffering humanity in its most repulsive form. 
Mother Mariana, who went out from Syracuse over thirty years 
ago with a band of heroic Sisters to care for the lepers in our far 
off eastern possessions of Hawaii, is still alive, a living martyr 
in her noble work of charity. Sister Leopoldina, who went from 
Utica in the same band, rejoices in the privilege given her of be- 
ing the only Sister that is allowed to come in physical contact 
with the sores of the poor lepers. Who shall say that these good 
Sisters are not bringing blessings down upon the diocese from 
which they went forth on their errand of self-sacrificing charity ? 
Besides these communities there are several others laboring 
with fruit in the diocese. The Sisters of St. Joseph from St. 
Louis, Mo., have a splendid boarding academy for young ladies 
in Binghamton, and also have charge of a great number of paro- 
chial schools, and they are not able to supply the demands made 
upon them to open others in the diocese. The Sisters of the Holy 
Names of Jesus and Mary from Hochelaga, Montreal, have a con- 
vent for young ladies in Rome, whose reputation has gone out far 
beyond the limits of the diocese. The Sisters of Christian Char- 
ity from Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and the Felician Sisters of St. 
Francis are also engaged in the work of teaching in the diocese. 
All these good Sisters are laboring in a spirit of zeal and self- 
sacrifice in the moulding of the hearts of the little ones, and 
planting in them the seeds of piety and love of Holy Church. 
They are caring for the sick and the poor and the orphan, and 
whilst laying up treasures in Heaven for themselves, they are 
accomplishing results in the splendid betterment of our Catholic 
population far surpassing the material progress so strikingly 



INTRODUCTION. 33 

manifested in the churches and charitable institutions that dot 
the diocese from one end to the other. 

In concluding I beg to remark a coincidence that is worthy of 
record. As St. Mary's of Ganentaa was the first church erected 
for white men in the Diocese of Syracuse, it seems fitting that St. 
Mary 's of Syracuse should be chosen for the Cathedral ; and as 
the other pioneer church erected in the Indian village of Onon- 
daga was dedicated to St. John the Baptist, so also it is appro- 
priate that the Mother Church of all the churches in Syracuse 
should be dedicated to the great Precursor of our Lord, thus 
keeping alive for the present and the future generations the 
golden memories of the past. 

With these prefatory notes I close this introduction. I con- 
gratulate the young editor for having so successfully woven into 
an interesting and readable tale the story of the parishes of the 
Diocese of Syracuse, told by so many and in so many different 
styles of literary dress. I would ask the reader as he scans these 
pages to keep in mind the dual growth of the Church in Central 
New York. Quebec planted the first seed — Baltimore the second. 
The rugged missionaries from France sailed up from Cham- 
plain 's city along the St. Lawrence, and on our Lake Ontario, and 
through Oswego, Oneida and Seneca rivers, and, leaving their 
boats, followed the Indian trails of the wilderness of long ago. 
And wherever they passed they planted the Cross of Christ and 
built an altar and offered up the Sacrifice of the New Law. A 
century later new missionaries from the Emerald Isle came with 
credentials from Baltimore, the fountain of ecclesiastical author- 
ity in the United States. Starting from our great metropolis 
they sailed up the noble river which Henry Hudson had opened 
to the world and then along the crooked turns of that same Mo- 
hawk over which their predecessors in the apostolic work had 
paddled in their rude canoes in the long ago. But the same 
broad ocean that washed the shores of Quebec flowed into the bay 
of the city of Lord Baltimore, and dashed its billows upon Civita 
Vecehia near the Throne of the Fisherman, who had sent out 
both bands of apostles to plant and replant the faith of Christ in 
Central New York. 

Not many miles from the Episcopal City of the Diocese of 
Syracuse there is a little mound, where the waters divide, and two 



34 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

tiny streams, but a few feet apart, gracefully separate and flow 
on in opposite directions. The first flows towards the north, 
empties into Lake Ontario, dashes through the rapids of the 
St. Lawrence and washes the shores of Quebec. The other passes 
into the Chenango and then into the Susquehanna and finally 
empties into Chesapeake Bay, touching the shores of that city, 
•which has the honor of being the primatial See of the United 
States, even as Quebec was of North America. Thus nature 
itself, as if determined that we should never forget the twin 
sources of our faith, has symbolized in these dual streams in our 
diocese the two-fold source of our evangelization. And she seems 
to bid us send back along that two-fold channel to Quebec and to 
Baltimore, and thence by that ocean which binds both together, 
to Rome, our grateful thanksgiving to God for sending that first 
band of heroic missionaries to plant the true faith in this wilder- 
ness of the New World among the savage Iroquois, and later on 
another corps of husbandmen to gather up the seed from the 
fallen tree and replant it again so solidly and so firmly that the 
Tree of Faith stands to-day a monument to their apostolic zeal, 
giant in stature, rich in foliage, abundant in fruit, and sheltering 
under its spacious boughs the thousands of Catholics of the Dio- 
cese of Syracuse. 



PARISHES OF THE 
EPISCOPAL CITY 



ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST. 

FIRST CHURCH FOR THE WHITES IN THE STATE OF NEW 
YORK, ERECTED BY JESUIT FATHERS AND FRENCH SET- 
TLERS IN 1656— FIRST CHURCH OF MODERN TIMES COM- 
PLETED IN 1827. 

THE Church of St. John the Baptist, as a modern organiza- 
tion, is of comparatively recent date. Her history, how- 
ever, goes to a remote period and is intimately connected 
with the earliest discoveries and settlements on the continent of 
North America. This region was visited by Catholic priests years 
before the pilgrims landed at Plymouth Kock, and before the 
Dutch settled the New Netherlands on Manhattan Island. 

Other localities were blessed with the presence of the black 
robed priests, prior to this section. The saintly Father Jogues, 
S, J., was one of the first to pass through the Onondaga Valley on 
a mission of peace to his beloved Hurons. It was he who, on the 
feast of Corpus Christi, 1642, named Lake George the lake of the 
"Blessed Sacrament." It was he who inscribed the holy name of 
"Jesus" on the forest trees of the great empire state; it was he 
who preached so lovingly to the savage Mohawks, to be rewarded 
afterwards with a martyr 's crown. The place where he was 
martyred has been identified and has now a beautiful shrine 
where thousands from all parts of the country flock yearly to beg 
the powerful intercession of this servant of God. We have tradi- 
tions of occasional visits of other missionaries to the Onondagas, 
prior to the coming of Father le Moyne in 1654. But he is the 
real founder of the Catholic Church in this county. We have the 
story of his coming in his own words. He says in his relations : 

' ' On July 17, 1654, I set out from Montreal and embarked for 
a land as yet but little known, accompanied by a young man of 
piety and fortitude, who had long been a resident of that coun- 
try." On August 5, Father le Moyne had nearly finished his 
journey. He says: "We traveled four leagues before reaching 



38 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

the principal Onondaga village. At a quarter of a mile from the 
village I began to hurrah in solemn and commanding tones, which 
gained me much credit. I called by name all their chiefs, 
families and distinguished persons. I told them that peace and 
joy were my companions and that I scattered war among distant 
nations. Two chiefs addressed me, as I entered the village, with 
a welcome that I had never before experienced among savages. 
At the grand council assembled by the chiefs in the cabin of On- 
dessonk, I opened the proceedings with the sign of the cross and 
with public prayer, on my knees, in a loud voice in the Huron 
tongue. I astonished them exceedingly by calling them all by 
nations, tribes, families and individuals, which amounted to no 
small number. This I was able to do from my notes, and to them 
it was as astonishing as it was novel. ' ' 

In another letter we find the following : "On August 16, 1654, 
we arrived at the entrance of a small lake ; we tasted the water of 
a spring which the Indians were afraid to drink, saying that it 
was inhabited by a demon who rendered it foul. I found it to be 
a fountain of salt water as natural as if from the sea, some of 
which we carried to Quebec." This spring is known as the 
"Jesuit's Well." 

In the same relation Father le Moyne says: "I baptized a 
young captive, 15 or 16 years old, taken from the Neuter nation, 
who had been instructed in the mysteries of our faith by a Huron 
convert. This was the first convert made at Onondaga. The joy 
I experienced was ample compensation for all past fatigues. ' ' 

Father le Moyne returned to Quebec, and the mission having 
been determined upon, Fathers Joseph Chaumonot and Claude 
Dablon were sent to the Onondaga Country to begin the work. 
They arrived in November of the same year and were joyfully 
received. A chapel was erected at Onnontage, the village at In- 
dian Hill, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. The mission 
proved so successful that the chapel was soon too small for the 
converts and it was replaced in 1656, after the arrival of the 
French colony, which had been promised the Onondaga sachems 
two years before, by a more commodious one. 

This colony, led by Father Francis le Mercier, S. J., consisted 
of four Jesuit Fathers and fifty Frenchmen. They set out from 
Quebec, May 16, 1656, and arriving at Onondaga Lake, July 11, 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 39 

began at once the erection of suitable buildings for the settle- 
ment. Here on the north shore of the lake, near to the ' ' Jesuit 's 
Well," and on the site selected by Father le Moyne, the first 
church in the State of New York for white men, St. Mary's of 
Ganentaa, was erected within the confines of the present parish 
of St. John the Baptist. 

For a while the mission prospered. Other missions branched 
out from it among the Oneidas, Cayugas and Senecas. The re- 
sults of the labors of the * ' black robes ' ' were visible everywhere. 
The Jesuit Relations of 1657 give a splendid pen picture of 
the daily life of the forefathers of this parish. "The divine 
office is recited, the sacraments are administered, the Chris- 
tian virtues are practiced with as much modesty, care and fervor 
as they are in the most Catholic and devout provinces of 
Europe. ' ' Converts were continually added to the faith, and the 
anticipations of the missionaries were raised to the highest pitch. 
Chapels were erected in other towns, and hopes for the conversion 
of entire tribes were entertained by the Fathers. But while these 
fond expectations were indulged, the savage Mohawks — who had 
been weaned away from their Catholic faith, as a fatal result of 
a struggle for supremacy between the two most powerful nations 
of Europe, — entered into a conspiracy with the Onondagas to 
destroy the Catholic missions. The plot was revealed by a 
friendly Indian, and the missionaries and the French colony 
escaped by the following ingenious method: Being forewarned 
of the intended massacre, they had prepared to escape in the 
night by means of several light boats, which they had secretly 
constructed in the large storehouse of the mission. The oppor- 
tunity was furnished them by the inventiveness of a young man, 
very much a favorite with the great chief, who feigned he had a 
dream that the great chief must provide a general feast, after 
the custom of the Indian nation. The rule of politeness required 
that they should eat and drink all set before them till they 
became gorged and stupefied. The banquet was prepared; all 
had feasted to surfeiting; the young man played on his guitar 
to soothe them into profound slumbers. In a little while they 
were all asleep, and before they awoke the missionaries and their 
followers were in their boats and soon were far beyond their 
reach. In the morning the Indians supposed that the whites had 



40 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

been sleeping as soundly as themselves, and it was not until they 
examined the premises that they discovered that their intended 
victims had fled. 

When the Mohawk conspiracy had died out, the Onondagas 
repented for having driven away their best and truest friends, 
the missionaries, and sent an invitation to them to return once 
more. This petition was accepted. A new colony, headed by 
the black gown, soon arrived, to be disturbed again by war 
rumors. The French and English were once more at war. The 
peaceful missions were again in danger of being destroyed. 
Nothing was left undone by the Jesuits to calm the passions of 
the outraged natives, but in vain. The domination of a power 
unfriendly to the Catholic faith poisoned the Indians against 
the missionaries, and after a heroic struggle of nearly a century, 
the Catholic missions among the Onondagas disappeared. Many 
of the converts retired to Canada, where they lived and died 
good Catholics, and many of their descendants are to-day leading 
peaceful, civilized, christianized lives in Northern New York. 

It has been charged that the Catholic missionaries baptized 
Indians and received them into the Church without instruction. 
Now this charge is absolutely false. The records of the mission- 
aries, English, French and Spanish, show that instruction always 
preceded baptism in those who had attained the age of reason, 
and that when the fundamental truths were implanted in the 
minds of the newly converted, baptism was, except in rare cases, 
long deferred in order to test the constancy of the candidate. 
The catechisms and Bible readings prepared for missionary use 
in all parts of this continent are still in existence, and show how 
carefully the missionaries endeavored to convey to those in prep- 
aration for baptism the fundamental principles of the Church, 
in terms that an Indian mind could grasp. The written state- 
ments of the missionaries who labored in all parts of the conti- 
nent show the utter falsity of the charge. 

Another charge is made to the effect that the French mission- 
aries taught the Indians that they would secure eternal happi- 
ness by killing the English heretics. The Protestant historians, 
Bancroft, Parkman, and Fisk, who have examined all the docu- 
ments of the early missionaries, have openly stated that no such 
doctrine can be found anywhere in them. There is not the 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 41 

slightest proof that can be cited that Catholic priests ever incul- 
cated such ideas. Catholic Canada never sought war; she con- 
stantly proposed colonial and especially Indian neutrality. 

It seems like a dream. The children of the forest were trans- 
formed by the gentle teachings of the black gowned missionaries 
from savage beasts and ravenous wolves into gentle lambs and 
docile children of the Church. But the evil days came. England 
and France contended for supremacy in these primeval forests. 
The peaceful, christianized Indians were made partisans in this 
bitter conflict and the work of the self-sacrificing missionaries 
was apparently of no avail. But God's ways are not man's. The 
blood of the first missionaries among the Onondagas became the 
seed from which sprung some of the sweetest flowers that ever 
grew in the garden of the Church. The saintly Indian maidens 
and Indian warriors, who lived and died in the faith, are suf- 
ficient proof of this statement. 

The Jesuit, Father le Moyne, the founder of the Onondaga 
mission, was the first to make known the usefulness of the salt 
springs to the Indian and the white man, and with the usual 
success of first discoverers. His statement was called a Jesuit 
lie and was laughed at by the Dutch of New Amsterdam, but 
curious to relate, the chronicler spelled the word ''lye," an 
unconscious vindication to the Jesuit's truthfulness. The in- 
dustry was as nothing then; the salt was merely a curiosity. 
Traders carried it to Albany and Quebec, only to exhibit it in 
exchanging their furs. The salt blocks were then a few small 
household kettles; yet this was the beginning of an industry 
which afterwards grew into vast proportions. 



The history of the pioneer Catholic church of Central New 
York is a history which lingers in the memories of a few who are 
yet living, who saw the infant church develop day by day, who 
watched the little mustard seed grow and spread out into a grand 
tree, under whose protecting branches so many now find rest and 
happiness. Let us examine the story of the infancy, the child- 
hood, and the sturdy manhood of old St. John the Baptist's par- 
ish. 

The town of Salina was incorporated in 1809, and the first 
town meeting was held on the 9th of May of the same year, in 



42 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

a tavern, the present site of the Salt Inspector's office, Exchange 
and Salina streets. The village of Salina was incorporated in 
the year 1824. The enactment declares "that it shall be on the 
ground adjoining the southeast side of Free street, that the vil- 
lage shall consist of sixteen blocks, each six chains square, that 
each lot be divided into four sections, and that no lot shall be 
sold for a less sum than $40. ' ' 

Among the men who composed the first Board of Trustees of 
this village corporation was one whose memory will ever be held 
in honor by Catholic and non-Catholic alike — Thomas McCarthy. 
His strict integrity and honest manhood gave him the position, 
a few years later, of urging upon his fellow Catholics the neces- 
sity of building a church of their own. Thomas McCarthy was 
a man raised up by Divine Providence to do a work which the 
priest of that day in his missionary rounds could not hope to do. 
No one can imagine, unless it be the hard working missionary 
priest of the present time, the privations and difficulties the poor 
priest of seventy-five years ago had to endure. The saddle, for 
the most of the time, was his bed : in it, he thought out his ser- 
mons; in it, he said his prayers, and it carried for him all that 
was necessary for the celebration of the Holy Mass: it was his 
Vade Mecum on his journey to visit his scattered sheep and to 
keep them in the sheepfold of the one true Shepherd. He was 
the pioneer who broke the forests for religion's swift advance. 
Thomas McCarthy, therefore, deserves an honorable mention in 
this brief history. He was born in Cork, Ireland, in the year 
1783. Unlike so many of his fellow countrymen, he had the 
opportunity of a good business education before coming to this 
country, which meant for him a seven years' lesson in commercial 
life ; he mastered all there was to it. In the year 1808, we find 
him leaving his home for the land of the free, where he hoped 
to enjoy the happiness of liberty of conscience and an oppor- 
tunity to realize the rewards of his labors. On landing in the 
autumn of the same year, he immediately laid his plans for the 
new future which stretched out before him. Modern conveni- 
ences were not then even in embryo. The old fashioned lumber- 
ing stage which hung from leathern straps, made distances days 
and weeks, which are now made in a few hours. There were no 
canals, nor railroads. Salina, at that time, had the name all over 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 43 

the country, of being prosperous, because of the salt springs 
made known through the Jesuit missionaries. The few small 
kettles of the eighteenth century had given way to a vast system 
of salt blocks. Making salt for commerce was now an established 
industry. People were flocking here from many quarters, and 
the influx naturally drew with it many of the banished and 
exiled children of the down-trodden Emerald Isle. Thomas Mc- 
Carthy was also drawn with it. To Salina, he started as soon 
as he recovered from the evil effects of a voyage, such as was 
experienced in the old sailing ships of those days ; and in a few 
weeks found himself in the place he was never to leave, until he 
left it forever in death. After a few years he saved sufficient 
money from his earnings to purchase a salt block. At that time 
a salt block was made up of eighteen kettles, and the ground 
occupied by them covered about eighteen by twenty-five feet, 
much narrower quarters than those made use of to-day, but 
vastly more profitable. Success crowned his untiring energy. 
In 1812 we find him purchasing a general dry goods and grocery 
store. The location of this store is where now stands the pump 
house, west of the Oswego canal. 

All the business transactions then for mercantile men were 
necessarily east. The great lakes of the West and Northwest 
with their populous cities, their immense commerce, and the 
great advantages of modern navigation, were then known to only 
a few white people and Indians. Commerce and business conse- 
quently went east to Utica, Albany and New York. This brought 
Mr. McCarthy, who made his trip twice a year, in contact with 
many of his countrymen who, like himself, had come to try their 
fortune in a land said to be flowing with the milk and honey of 
plenty. 

By his honest business methods and genial social qualities, ho 
made for himself friends of all denominations, and it was prin- 
cipally upon these friends that he depended for the means of 
carrying out the one thought uppermost in his mind, — the 
building for the Catholics of Salina a church, wherein they 
might worship God according to the dictates of their conscience. 
The original subscription list shows sums of fifty dollars and 
under; sums which in those days were large and generous. 
Thomas McCarthy saw with pleasure an increase of Catholics in 



44 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Salina, for he loved his Church, and he made the first move in 
the matter by donating a lot for the erection of an edifice. That 
lot was the site of the old church on Salina street, where the 
Catholics of this entire county for many years worshipped their 
God ; where many who are yet living had the regenerating waters 
of baptism poured upon them; where happy hearts were sacra- 
mentally united, and where many of the parents of those who 
are now in manhood's prime, went for the last time for the 
blessing of that fond and tender Mother Church, who loves her 
children in death as well as in life. Thomas McCarthy read far 
into the future. He built for posterity. He left behind him 
children and children's children who have followed in his foot- 
steps in their generous support of religion. 

The history of this pioneer church would not be complete if we 
omitted the name of James Lynch, the man who was its first 
treasurer, and whose interesting records are in the present 
church archives. 

James Lynch was born in Ireland, and at the age of twenty- 
seven he came to this country. He served in the war of 1812 
and distinguished himself in many important naval engagements. 
At the close of the war he engaged in business in New York 
City, and was there married. In 1825 he came to this city and 
for a period of nearly thirty years, he conducted a mercantile 
business in what is now known as the First Ward. During 
these years he also engaged largely in the manufacture of salt 
and, at the time of his death, retained a large interest in the 
industry. He was one of the first directors of the Syracuse Gas- 
Light company, and for several years he was its president. He 
was a trustee of the Syracuse Savings Bank and its vice- 
president, and was also director in the Salt Springs National 
Bank. He was a man of generous impulses and honest intentions. 
He was firm and decisive in his opinions, but tolerant to those 
who disagreed with him in religious dogmas. His business 
sagacity was amply rewarded, and till almost the close of his 
life he gave personal attention to his affairs. Politically, he was 
an unswerving and influential democrat. He filled many 
positions of honor and trust in municipal and other corporate 
bodies. He died on Good Friday, April 10, 1862, aged 87 years. 

There are many others who might be mentioned among the 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 45 

pioneers and patriarchs of this church. Peter McGuire, a man 
whose name has always been held as a synonym of everything 
that was noble and good; a man who for forty years took an 
active part in the fortunes of his church as trustee, and who 
never abated his zeal, until the feebleness incident to old age 
made him discontinue his constant duties as revenue collector 
of the church. The late venerable John McCarthy, a former 
trustee and parishioner, should be mentioned here. Of him a 
former beloved pastor. Rev. George Browne, writes: "How I 
would like to proclaim the names of all those benefactors of St. 
John the Baptist church! I am quite sure that it shall excite 
no jealous feelings if I mention the name of John McCarthy, 
an excellent Christian, a polished scholar and a leader in every 
good work ; Patrick Malloy, as generous as he was wealthy, and 
the venerable Peter McGuire, who was foremost among those 
that were always ready to advise, help and encourage their 
pastor in all his difficulties. I can only say : * May God reward 
them all. ' What they did to uphold the credit of the parish was 
at a great personal sacrifice. ' ' 



During the last half century and more many priests have 
directed the spiritual affairs of the people of this parish. Away 
back in the beginning of this century, missionary priests visited 
this locality and administered to the spiritual wants of the few 
scattered Catholics of Central New York. Among these welcome 
visitors were the venerable Bishops DuBois and Hughes of New 
York. They officiated at private houses — especially at the 
McCarthy and Lynch homesteads. Then there were regular 
visits made by missionary priests from various localities, who 
came to administer the sacraments and instruct the children in 
Christian doctrine. This continued till the year 1827. 

The first resident pastor who officiated here was Rev. Francis 
Donohue. He completed the church and brought many to the 
faith. After six years he was succeeded by Rev. Fathers Balfe 
and Drummond, who in turn gave place to Rev. James O 'Donnell 
who remained in charge for five years. The next pastors were 
Fathers Radigan and Chartier. Then followed Rev. Michael 
Heas, whose memory will always be cherished by the people of 
Syracuse. He was a man who lived to do his Master's will. 



46 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Self-sacrificing to an unwonted degree, ever sympathizing with 
the poor and needy of his parish,— "he went about continually 
doing good." He was the teacher and the financial agent for 
his people, as well as their spiritual guide. He was the friend 
of the immigrant, and scores of them were, by his generosity, 
enabled to come to "the land of the free and the home of the 
brave." Through his exertions the first church was enlarged 
and beautified. The task was then most difficult as old Salina 
had but fifty families, and upon these he could not solely depend. 
Large sums were contributed then as now by our non- Catholic 
brethren. Father Heas, after serving faithfully old St. John the 
Baptist's parish for fifteen years, was transferred to a new field 
of labor. He was commissioned to form a new parish in what 
was then known as the village of Syracuse. He secured old St. 
Paul's Episcopal church, which he had dedicated to Catholic 
service in 1842. 

Rev. Michael Heas was succeeded by Father Guillick who in 
turn gave place to Rev. Joseph Guerdet. The latter labored 
here for seven years, after which he was sent to take charge of 
St. Mary's church, Oswego, and later to the Church of St. John 
the Evangelist, Syracuse. Then came Fathers Mullady and 
Hackett. Father Hackett took up the work laid down by his 
predecessors. Success attended his saintly efforts. He enlarged 
and improved the old church and brought the Sisters of St. 
Joseph to this parish, but strange to say, this great lover of 
Christian education never lived to see the Sisters he had prayed 
for during many years. They arrived in Syracuse the very day 
of his burial. A local paper of that time speaks as follows of 
this most excellent priest : ' ' Father Hackett is dead, — the last 
remains of this venerable man were consigned to their last 
resting place on the 3rd of September, 1861, amid the tears and 
lamentations of his whole congregation." 

In the lamented Father Hackett was concentrated all that 
contributes to make a perfect man. In him could be found 
virtue without pride, charity without conceit, and above all 
things, a love holy and intense for God and His Church. Father 
Hackett 's grave is in St. Agnes' cemetery and is yearly visited 
by many of his old time-honored friends. His work was taken 
np by Rev. Maurice Sheehan, who guided the destinies of the 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 47 

parish for five years. He was a dignified, scholarly priest who 
had the confidence and love of his people. An event of note 
during his administration was the calamity that came upon the 
district in the great fire that destroyed the business portion of 
Salina. Father Sheehan died recently and was buried from St. 
Joseph's church, Albany. 

Old Salina had grown rapidly. From it, as an off-shoot, has 
sprung the thriving city of Syracuse. In those days there was 
money aplenty in the salt business. This caused a great increase 
in the population, and the old church was found too small to 
accomodate the congregation. Rev. James E. Duffy was the 
pastor in those prosperous times. He was appointed in January, 
1866. Young and full of ambition and ability, he labored faith- 
fully among his people. The times were prosperous, money was 
plentiful and generous hearts were ready to give towards a 
magnificent edifice such as Father Duffy proposed to build. The 
corner-stone was laid in 1868 and the following year enclosed 
the present magnificent church. It was completed and dedicated 
in June, 1871. 

With the glory of the completed and dedicated temple came 
a crisis in the salt industry. The great Salina salt works began 
to fail ; the tariff was removed ; stronger salt springs were dis- 
covered in various localities, which lessened the expense of manu- 
facturing the commodity. This lowered prices and lessened 
earnings, and the entire community was soon brought to the 
abyss of financial ruin. The new church was heavily in debt. 
Men of wealth were willing to assist their pastor, but their 
wealth was locked up in their salt blocks which lost their value. 
Those in poorer circumstances were as willing as ever, but their 
earnings were scarcely enough to support their little homes. 
Father Duffy who was a man of great integrity and honesty of 
purpose, tried hard to stem the tide. His devotion to a stricken 
people is to this day held in grateful remembrance. Hard times 
and worse payments were the obstacles placed in the way of his 
freeing this beautiful church from debt. The same fate met the 
church that met richer and more powerful institutions. Failing 
health made a change necessary, and in June, 1877, Father Duffy 
was sent to East Albany. Since his removal from here he has 
built an elegant new church upon the ruins of one that was 



48 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

destroyed by fire, and he has erected and supported an excellent 
Catholic school. The name of Father Duffy will always be held 
in grateful remembrance in this parish. 

Rev. George Browne was sent to fill the vacancy. For two 
years he labored faithfully, day and night, to save the church 
from bankruptcy — but it seemed a hopeless task. In January, 
1878, Father Browne gave place to Rev. William J. Bourke, and 
after building a church in Troy, he retired to his former diocese 
in Canada where he has since labored with great success among 
a most devoted people. 

Father Bourke fully realized the difficulties he had to face in 
assuming charge of this parish, but he was a man who never 
faltered in the presence of difficulties. He knew the people of 
old St. John's and they knew him, for he was reared with them. 
How nobly they responded to his many calls during his adminis- 
tration, is a matter of history. For upwards of ten years he 
labored to save the edifice from financial failure. • It was a weary 
task, but his cheerful disposition and noble heart won for him 
a host of friends who always rallied about him when there was 
mention of making a special effort to reduce the crushing church 
debt. Yet, with all this care and anxiety, he found time and 
means to accomplish other great undertakings. He would en- 
large and beautify the Catholic school of this parish where the 
children might be trained and educated without running the risk 
of weakening their Catholic faith. He left the school as a legacy 
to remind the people, as Catholics, of their duty to give their 
children what they have a right to demand at their hands — a 
Catholic education. When he died, April 17, 1887, the whole 
community, irrespective of creed, showed him the greatest honor. 
His Bishop, Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, and brother clergymen, 
united with Catholic Syracuse in mourning the loss of this most 
excellent priest. The Rev. Dr. Lynch of Utica, his boon friend 
and classmate, in pronouncing his eulogy over the remains, said : 
"We have gathered here to-day to mourn a great loss. Father 
Bourke 's labors are too well known to you all to need comment. 
You were the witnesses of his great zeal and true Christian 
piety. He was a martyr to duty. ' ' These words were literally 
true. He was a martyr to duty, for he worked for his people 
most faithfully. He worked alone without the help necessary 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 49 

in a parish of this size. He deprived himself of many comforts 
to lessen the burden resting upon his people. In the words of 
the eulogy: "You, for whom he labored and died, must not 
forget him in your prayers. ' ' 

The Rev. John F. MuUany, LL. D., M. R., was sent in June, 
1887, to fill the vacancy made by the death of Father Bourke 
and has labored zealously these twenty odd years in the common 
cause of religion and education. The debt on the church has been 
materially reduced and the property beautified and improved in 
many ways. 

The following Reverend Fathers officiated in this parish as 
assistant priests: The Rev. Francis J. Maguire, LL. D., was 
assistant to the Rev. James E. Duffy, from January, 1873, to 
July of the same year. Father Maguire built the Church of the 
Sacred Heart, North Albany, in 1878. While here he was loved 
and respected by the entire community, because of the great in- 
terest he took in the young men of the parish. The same zeal has 
characterized his life ever since. Then followed the Rev. Richard 
Meehan, now of Troy, who remained here but a short time. In 
January, 1874, the Rev. John Mclncrow was missioned here. His 
stay was brief, but during that short period, he gave promise of 
the apostolic spirit that afterwards budded into flower and fruit 
in the wonders he achieved in Amsterdam. He was called to his 
reward too soon, but the fruits of his zealous labors in the cause 
of Catholic education and Catholic morality shall live forever. 
The gentle and delicate Father Hyland came next. None thought 
that the young priest would live many years, yet he has been 
blessed with a long and fruitful ministry. He is the honored 
pastor at Ilion, which position he has held for many years. The 
Rev. P. F. Harrick assisted Father Bourke for a short time. He 
was appointed pastor of the Catholic church at Marathon, which 
position he filled till his death in 1890. His sunny, genial dis- 
position won him friends wherever he labored. Then came the 
Rev. Richard H. Gahan and the Rev. James Collins. Their 
sojourn was short, as both were in poor health. Father Gahan 
died in Hoboken, N. J., in 1888, and Father Collins in St. 
Joseph's hospital in this city, the following year. They were 
succeeded by the Rev. William H. Griffin, who is now pastor of 
St. John 's church, New Hartford. He is pleasantly remembered 



50 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

by all the people of this parish. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
Joseph S. Tiernan, "who labored here four years with great zeal 
for the honor and glory of God. He established a total abstin- 
ence society, which did much good. He also organized a diocesan 
temperance union. Father Tiernan was appointed pastor of 
Camden in 1894, where he has been laboring with great success 
ever since. Father Tiernan was succeeded by the Rev. James 
A. McGuire, who died in St. Joseph's hospital a few months 
later. He was a lovable character and his untimely deatli was 
regretted by all who knew him. The Rev. Joseph Wilmes fol- 
lowed, and assumed duties in October, 1895, which position he 
most acceptably filled till called to St. Mary's, Utica. He was 
re-appointed to this parish in 1901. The Rev. William J. Glynn, 
D. D., faithfully served the parish as assistant from 1896 to 
1901. Rev. Timothy F. Howard took his place and continues to 
look after the interests of the school and junior societies of the 
church. 



CATHEDRAL OF THE IMMACULATE 
CONCEPTION. 

CHRISTMAS DAY, 1842, the congregation of St. Mary's, 
now the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, as- 
sembled for the first time in their own edifice for divine 
worship. Previous to this time they had received spiritual care 
from St. John the Baptist church, in the town of Salina. Find- 
ing the distance to this church rather long they resolved to find 
a more central place of worship. They organized themselves 
into an organization known as the "Catholic Society of Syra- 
cuse" and purchased from the Townsend estate on July 26th, 
1841, for $800.00, a plot of ground on the corner of Madison 
and Montgomery streets. They next bought, for $400.00, the 
Episcopalian church which stood on the block lately known as 
the Granger Block property and now occupied by the Sedgwick, 
Andrews and Kennedy building on East Genesee street, at the 
corner of South Warren street and moved this building to their 
own property. The church was of small dimensions and would 
accommodate only about three hundred people. The pastor was 
soon obliged to enlarge this edifice to accommodate the increasing 
numbers of the new congregation. In fact, scarcely were the 
doors thrown open for the first time than standing room was at 
a premium. Men and women, who hitherto were not counted 
as Catholics, embraced this opportunity to satiate their thirsty 
souls with the spiritual draughts which flow copiously from the 
tabernacle of the Catholic Church. Exiles from home, ham- 
pered by prejudice against their religion, limited in this world's 
goods, they were unable to travel long distances to church, so 
they intrusted their faith to their Maker and by daily prayer 
kept alive the fire of their religion expecting, like the Israelites 
of old, the return of a happier day when they could sing their 
Canticles and offer Sacrifice to the God of their fathers in their 
own temple. 
Unable to accommodate the large congregation, the priest in 



52 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

charge extended the church some fifty feet, enlarged the gallery 
and placed a substantial basement under the entire structure at 
an expense of some thirty-five hundred dollars. 

This was quite an undertaking for a congregation of limited 
means in those days, yet they cheerfully accepted the burden 
and with a truly Catholic spirit paid in a few years every dollar 
of indebtedness. From the very beginning the congregation gave 
signs of a sturdy Christianity which, when fostered by the care- 
ful hand of the Church, would lead its members in honorable 
and influential paths, would assist them to grow in prosperity 
and enable them to take an active part in the destinies of the 
town. The present position of the congregation fully justifies 
these anticipations. Notwithstanding the enlargement of the 
church, it was only a few years before a division of the parish 
was necessary, so numerous had the congregation become. 

In 1852 the parish of St. John the Evangelist was formed and 
placed under the direction of Rev. John McMenomy. 

St. Mary's parish consisted then of all the territory lying 
south of the canal in the city of Syracuse and the adjoining 
villages of Fayetteville. Jamesville, Cazenovia and Split Rock. 

The importance of the latter in these days may be seen from 
the fact that the lot on which the present church is located in 
Split Rock was purchased by the pastor of St. Mary's. He in- 
tended, no doubt, that a church would be built thereon for the 
people. 

The first pastor of St. Mary's was the Rev. Michael Heas. He 
was a native of County Cork, Ireland, a very learned and ener- 
getic man. He presided over the church in Salina for some time 
before coming to Syracuse. He saw, no doubt, that the harvest 
was ripe in this portion of the Master's field and that laborers 
were wanting. Resigning, then, his charge to other hands less 
experienced in mission work but competent to care for the well 
organized church of Salina, he took up his residence in Syracuse 
and formed the parish of St. Mary. 

The people in Salina were reluctant to let Father Heas depart, 
in fact they protested against it; but this officer in the army of 
Christ, this man who had already left country, home, kindred 
and friends for the Gospel's sake could not remain domiciled 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 53 

in comfort whilst he knew that his Master had not even a tent 
in which He could repose in these parts of His Kingdom. 

So faithful was he in the discharge of his duties and beloved 
was he among the people to whom he now administered, that for 
many years after his death he was remembered most kindly by 
the members of his congregation. In fact, for his people, Father 
Heas was the embodiment of every virtue. He was their leader 
not only in their religious lives but in their civic affairs. He 
was their counsellor in their difficulties, their source of consola- 
tion in their trials, their friend in all things. Joining in their 
sorrows and their joys, he was truly, in the words of St. Paul, 
"All things to all men." 

While Father Heas was a man of tender heart and strong 
sympathies for his people, he was yet very firm in his convic- 
tions and never swerved from what he thought was his duty. 
An instance may be cited. The immigrants, who formed the 
greater part of his congregation, brought with them from their 
native homes faults as well as virtues. These faults, in this free 
country, were calculated to grow rapidly and work damage 
among the people. Foremost amongst them was the unreason- 
able expense at funerals. Father Heas felt if this was not recti- 
fied it would tend to cripple, financially, a people who were 
already struggling for an existence. He strictly forbade the 
hiring of carriages for funeral purposes and, that most foolish 
of all practices, an unreasonable outlay for a coffin which was 
to be concealed for all time beneath the earth. This latter, 
however, has outlived his prohibition and is to-day one of the 
follies of our people. Father Heas was relentless in these re- 
strictions and in confirmation of them, when he felt the hand of 
death was upon himself he gave strict orders that he should be 
laid away in the plainest of coffins, accompanied on foot by all 
those who wished to follow his remains to the burying ground. 
This had the desired effect and for years afterwards no carriages 
were found at the funerals of Catholics, until the formation of 
St. Agnes' Cemetery. 

One of the principal cares of Father Heas was for the chil- 
dren, a goodly number of whom was then, as now, the rich bless- 
ing of St. Mary's. The baptisms, in those days, were about two 
hundred a year. These God-fearing people evidently recognized 



54 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

their dignity as God's agents and in no wise shortened the 
Creator's hand in the procreation of the human species. 

The children were congregated every Sunday and with the 
assistance of some faithful members of his flock, he taught them 
their duties towards God, towards their neighbor and towards 
themselves. From these classes Father Heas was never absent 
notwithstanding the many places he had to attend. He felt the 
responsibility that was on him to scatter, with lavish hand, the 
seed committed to him by the Heavenly Husbandman in the 
hearts of the dear little ones of Christ. He well knew that the 
harvest would be in proportion to the care taken by the tiller of 
the soil. With this end in view he labored faithfully and before 
death closed his eyes he saw himself surrounded by an intelligent 
and numerous people that would work wonders in the develop- 
ment of Catholicity. 

Father Heas provided not only for the religious but also for 
the secular education of his people. In 1850 he had a school 
established for boys and girls and from his meager income paid 
the teachers. The school was continued by his successor, till 
owing to circumstances of place and money, it became imprac- 
ticable. So interested was Father Heas in their educational 
improvement that he provided for the children a singing master, 
a novelty certainly in those days. It was Father Heas who 
brought the Sisters of Charity to Syracuse and aided them to 
found the present Asylum in Madison street. 

There is another feature in connection with old St. IMary's 
which deserves mention. The pipe organ which was in the 
church at the time of its purchase was bought by the congrega- 
tion. It was the first pipe organ in these regions and was of 
most beautiful tone. It was much admired in its day and is now 
a relic, treasured for the congregation. Thus from the begin- 
ning was St. Mary's accustomed to the solemn services of the 
Church. This interest in church music at the services has been 
inherited by the descendants of the founders of the parish and in 
later years we find these descendants purchasing from their own 
resources one of the finest church organs in the State. It is one 
of the things of which the present Cathedral parish feels proud. 

Father Heas died Easter Sunday, 1859. This is a coincidence 
that should be noticed ; on Christmas day, 1842, Father Heas 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 55 

celebrated the first Mass in St. Mary's parish church and on 
Easter Sunday, 1859, his soul was claimed by its Creator. 

The Rev. James A. O'Hara, in the following July, was ap- 
pointed to succeed this very remarkable priest. 

Father O'Hara was a native of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, 
Ireland. When very young he came to this country with his 
parents, was educated at Villanova and Fordham. He was a man 
strong in mind and body. He had already cared for the mis- 
sions of Oneida and Peterboro and the surrounding country. 
His fame as a preacher and defender of the faith had preceded 
him to Syracuse, for during his ministry at Oneida he was called 
upon frequently to refute the calumnies and lies that were hurled 
against his Church by intolerant ministers and bigoted statesmen 
of that country district. 

Under the wise administration of Father O'Hara St. Mary's 
grew to be a power so that its influence was felt in the manage- 
ment of the affairs of the whole city. And not only in power, 
but also in numbers did the parish increase so that the old edifice 
was much too small for the congregation. 

In 1870 the men of the southwest part of the city petitioned 
Bishop Conroy for a new church. The Bishop deputed the Rev. 
Joseph Guerdet, pastor of St. John's church, Syracuse, to ex- 
amine the necessity for a new church. Father Guerdet reported 
favorably and the parish of St. Lucy's was formed. This new 
parish was practically a second division of St. Mary's. 

About this time Father O'Hara sought a vacation and having 
obtained it from the Bishop of Albany, went to Rome to see 
the City of Popes and to visit the Basilicas of fame in the 
Eternal City. Whilst in Rome he attended lectures at the 
College of Sapienza and after a successful examination received 
the title of Doctor of Theology. 

He now returned to Syracuse much improved in health and 
much elated over the high honor he had obtained by his own 
industry and scholarly attainments. Immediately upon his re- 
turn he directed his energies to the building of the new St. 
Mary's, a project he had had in mind for many years and to 
complete which he had formed many plans, all of which, for one 
reason or another, were destined to failure. He considered the 
time now opportune and commenced the work. 



56 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

His knowledge of Syracuse and his confidence in her develop- 
ment convinced him that the site of old St. Mary 's would not 
answer for the new church. He decided to build it in a more 
prominent quarter, in a portion of the city calculated to give 
prominence to the Catholic people. Present circumstances fully 
confirm the correctness of this view. 

The site upon which the Cathedral now stands was purchased 
for the sum of $35,000.00. The expenditure of this large amount 
of money was made necessary owing to the opposition to having 
a Catholic church in so prominent a quarter of the city. But 
Doctor O'Hara, no wise daunted by the expense or opposition, 
laid the foundations and raised the walls of the present beautiful 
Cathedral. Obstacles came, difficulties increased, at times the 
completion of the plans looked doubtful but that indomitable 
will, which had already triumphed over many difficulties, con- 
tinued the struggle and the year 1886 beheld the practical 
consummation of St. Mary's at an expense of over $250,000.00. 
The church was opened for divine services on December 6th, 
1886, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop McNeirny to the great joy of the 
pastor, his congregation and his numerous friends throughout 
the city. 

For three years the Doctor ministered to the wants of his 
congregation in the new church. Full of years and honors he 
died December 26th, 1889. To few men is granted the distinction 
that was shown to Dr. O'Hara. On the day of his funeral 
tribute was paid to his memory by the citizens of Syracuse re- 
gardless of creed or nationality. 

The vast edifice, to the completion of which he had worked 
so nobly, was crowded as never before, and the streets, notwith- 
standing the inclement weather, were literally packed with 
people. As the funeral procession left the church the bell in 
the City Hall tower was tolled, an unprecedented honor paid to 
the memory of a minister of the Gospel. 

January 12th, 1890, his successor. Rev. John Grimes, was ap- 
pointed. During his ministry the church continued as before, 
the great effort being to pay off the debt which amounted to 
$120,000. The new pastor, owing to the general co-operation of 
the members of the church, succeeded in paying off the entire in- 
debtedness, the last payment being made in July, 1908. This 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 57 

stupendous achievement was accomplished by the priests and peo- 
ple of the parish without outside aid of any kind. There were no 
fairs or festivals or other appeals to public charity. Stated col- 
lections for the purpose of reducing the debt were made and to 
every appeal of Father Grimes the response was prompt and gen- 
erous, the people partaking of his enthusiasm and sharing his 
desire that the debt be liquidated as soon as possible so that other 
and necessary parish work might be taken up. The great need 
of the parish has been for schools where the children might re- 
ceive a real Catholic education. This has been preached to the 
people as a prime necessity and they are now prepared to make 
whatever sacrifice will be entailed in its building. 

In 1903 the Bishop of the diocese, the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, 
who had hitherto made his Cathedral at St. John the Evangelist 
church, decided to establish the Cathedral of the diocese. For 
this purpose he purchased, with his own money, the bath house 
known as the "La Concha", for twenty thousand dollars. He 
had this building removed and a magnificent sanctuary erected 
for St. Mary's, thus completing the most beautiful church in the 
central part of the State. 

This Cathedral, mammoth in dimensions, gorgeous in decora- 
tions, will stand for all time as a monument of generosity to the 
first Bishop of Syracuse, the Right Reverend Dr. Ludden. 

The ornamental scheme of the sanctuary, its stucco work, the 
molding of all its varied forms should be of absorbing interest 
to the observer, reminiscent as it is of the piety and industry of 
the middle ages when all of the multitudinous details were 
wrought with loving care by hand, slowly and laboriously. 
Massing the light into a group of five magnificent windows, its 
tones softened by the tender coloring of the stained glass, the 
rays fall upon and enhance the stately beauty of the high marble 
altar. Pictured in these windows with masterly art are the 
principal mysteries of our faith and events connected with the 
life of the titular saint of the Cathedral, as the Annunciation 
by the Angel Gabriel, the Birth of the Savior, the Assumption 
of the Blessed Virgin into Heaven, the Crucifixion and the Resur- 
rection of our Savior. 

The central altar is a splendid example of the sculptor's art, 
its delicate tracery and colors harmonizing perfectly with its 



58 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

surroundings, and here also a close inspection is necessary to 
reveal the beautiful fretwork and many colored marbles that are 
blended and lost in the distant view, likewise the pictures in 
relief at the base that recall the great offerings of Abraham and 
Melchisedech, prophets as they were of the Sacrifice of the Lamb. 
This is the munificent gift of the late Rev. P. H. Beecham of 
Baldwinsville. 

The Sacred Heart altar is the gift of Mrs. Charles Hughes 
and though uniform in style with that of the Rosary altar, con- 
tains two beautiful pictures in relief, one over the tabernacle 
representing the apparition to the Blessed Margaret Mary, the 
other at the base of the altar that deserves an especial mention 
as it is a reproduction of that celebrated masterpiece of Leonardo 
da Vinci, the most marvelous conception of the Last Supper 
that has been portrayed by the masters, old or modern. 

The Rosary altar is the gift of the society of that name, whose 
membership comprises most of the congregation. The relief over 
the tabernacle represents the Holy Family with the figure of 
the Almighty Father appearing above. At the base the lilies 
so characteristic of the Virgin Mother are sculptured in a beauti- 
ful manner. 

The marble altar-rail is the gift and memorial of John Quinn, 
father of the Rev. Francis J. Quinn. 

Beneath the high altar are the catacombs wherein are six 
crypts into which the bodies of the Bishops will be laid, and 
just in front of it there is a door concealed in the floor, through 
which in time of need the casket will be lowered. 

The sacristy is of ample proportion for all future needs of the 
Cathedral and is divided into two parts connected by a passage 
behind the sanctuary wall proper. 



The children under the pastorates of Dr. O'Hara and Father 
Grimes were religiously trained by the Sunday school only. 
Extra efforts were made during the week to teach the catechism 
to the children and by these extra classes, God fructifying the 
effort, the children profited admirably and are among the best 
in the city. All is done for the children that can be done without 
a parochial school. With the blessing of God they shall soon 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 59 

have a school that will be worthy of the Cathedral parish. The 
average attendance at the catechism classes is about 500, and 
the boys and girls attend till they reach the age of twenty and 
over and then it is with reluctance that the majority of them 
leave the classes. 

The first assistant at St. Mary 's was the Rev. Michael Hackett. 
He labored with Father Heas in the early fifties. 

He was an Irishman, learned in science and eloquent in 
preaching, and afterwards became pastor of Salina church. In 
1852 the Rev. John McMenomy succeeded Father Hackett. Be- 
sides fulfilling the duties of assistant to Father Heas, he organ- 
ized St. John's parish and built St. John's church. He was 
afterwards appointed pastor and for many years filled that 
important position. 

In 1868 the Rev. Thomas Walsh was appointed assistant to 
the Rev. Father O'Hara. Father Walsh was a very learned 
man and was the author of several works, the most prominent of 
which was a history of the Church, in two volumes. He acted 
as pastor during the absence of Father 'Hara in 1869-70. 

Father Fournier, of French extraction, was sent to assist 
Father Walsh during the absence of Father O'Hara. He con- 
tinued afterwards as assistant to Father 'Hara and was finally 
appointed pastor of Deposit. 

Father Hayden was the next assistant. He was of Irish 
parentage ; genial and learned and was dearly loved by the con- 
gregation, many of whom still remember him. He was promi- 
nently spoken of for the new parish when St. Lucy's was organ- 
ized. He has filled several prominent positions in the diocese 
of Albany and is to-day the honored pastor of Gloversville. 

The Very Rev. James J. O'Brien, now the honored pastor of 
Sandy Hill and Dean of Warren county, was also assistant at St. 
Mary's. Father O'Brien was a man of the most genial dis- 
position and was endowed with brilliant attainments. He was 
dearly beloved by the people of St, Mary 's and when he departed 
for his first mission, at Fonda in 1882, many a tear was shed 
and many a prayer was said for his success in life. His memory 
is still precious in the minds of the people. 

Following Father O'Brien came the present rector of the 
Cathedral, the Rt. Rev. John Grimes, Coadjutor-Bishop of Syra- 



60 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

cuse. He came to St. Mary's at a critical time and proved of 
invaluable assistance to the aged pastor during the trying time 
•when the constructive work on the magnificent new church had 
for one reason or another been delayed. After two years of serv- 
ice Father Grimes was sent to North Creek, where he remained 
until restored to the parish on prayer of the building committee, 
returning to remain until 1887, when the Diocese of Syracuse 
was fonned and he was transferred by Bishop Ludden to Whites- 
boro in Oneida County. He continued in charge of that parish 
until the death of Dr. O'Hara in 1889, when Bishop Ludden ap- 
pointed him pastor of St. Mary 's. 

When St. Mary's became the Cathedral in 1904, Father Grimes 
remained as rector. He became a member of the Papal House- 
hold, with rank of Monsignor, in June of the same year. A 
crowning distinction was conferred in January, 1909, when, in 
response to a request of Bishop Ludden that a Coadjutor-Bishop 
of Syracuse be appointed, Monsignor Grimes was chosen from 
among those nominated by priests of the diocese and the Bishops 
of the province and named for that exalted position by His Holi- 
ness, Pope Pius X. The news of the appointment was received 
in Syracuse on Januaiy 19th, by telegram from the Most Rever- 
end Diomede Falconio, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, 
and was made the occasion of great popular rejoicing. 

The next assistant was the respected and honored pastor of the 
Church of St. Anthony of Padua in this city. Rev. Francis J. 
Quinn. Father Quinn is a zealous and pious priest and was 
esteemed and loved by the people. He still continues a favorite 
among them. 

Following Father Quinn came the Rev. James F. 'Shea, who 
for eleven years labored indefatigably for the welfare of the 
people. He is a man of keen judgment, always on the alert for 
the good of his people and whose purse is always open for the 
poor and needy. He despised hypocrites and never hesitated to 
express his opinion about them. At the laying of the cornerstone 
of the church built by him in Solvay the Bishop truly named 
him, "The energetic and irrepressible pastor of Solvay." 

Father O'Shea was the last assistant at St. Mary's. With the 
appointment of his successor, the Rev. James P. McGraw, S. T. 
L., began the life of the second Cathedral of the diocese. The 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 61 

Cathedral has now two assistants, the Rev. William M. Dwyer, 
S. T. B., having been appointed in November, 1904, and the Rev. 
James P. McPeak, S. T. L., in December, 1906. Rev. James F. 
Collins served as assistant during the summer of 1906, succeeding 
Father McGraw, who was appointed Chancellor of the diocese 
and secretary to the Bishop in May of that year. Chancellor 
McGraw is a native of Syracuse, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip 
McGraw of St. Patrick's parish, and a brother of the Rev. John 
A. McGraw, S. T. D., J. C. D., of Baldwinsville. He made his 
classical studies at Manhattan College and prepared for the 
priesthood at St. Bernard's Seminary. He was ordained in St. 
John's Cathedral in 1901 and later attended the Catholic 
University, taking the degrees S. T. B. and S. T. L. 



The following transcript of a record on file with the County 
Clerk of Onondaga is interesting as an account of the legal or- 
ganization of the first parish of Syracuse : 

At a meeting held at the Catholic Church in the town of Salina 
in the County of Onondaga, on the 11th day of July, 1841, for 
the purpose of organizing a Religious Society in the village of 
Syracuse pursuant to the provisions of the Statute in such case 
made and provided, notice of such meeting having been given 
according to Law, The Rev. Michael Hayes (sic) was appointed 
Moderator and William F. Byrne appointed Secretary; David 
Hall and Hugh Rogers were appointed returning officers, and the 
following resolutions were adopted : 

Resolved, That we do hereby organize ourselves into a Re- 
ligious Society, pursuant to the Statute in such case made and 
provided, to be located in the village of Syracuse in the town of 
Salina in the County of Onondaga, 

Resolved, That the name of said society be called The Catholic 
Congregatimi of Syracuse, and thereupon John Murphy, William 
F. Byrne, Jonathan Cockson, Jacob Phfole and Placie Shemmel 
were duly elected Trustees of said Society. 

We, David Hall and Hugh Rogers, do certify the foregoing to 
be a true history of the proceedings of said Society and authorize 
the same to be recorded, pursuant to the provisions of the Stat- 

"t^- [S.S.] David Hall, 

Dated July 11th, 1841. [S. S.] Hugh Rogers. 



62 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

State of New York, ) 

]■ ss * 
Onondaga County. \ 

On this 13th day of July, 1841, David Hall and Hugh Rogers 

to me personally known to be the same persons described in and 

who have executed the foregoing instrument, came before me and 

severally acknowledged that they executed the same for the uses 

and purposes therein expressed. 

Grove Lawrence, 

First Judge of Onondaga County Courts. 

Recorded July 15, 1841, at 51/2 o'clock P. M. 

Chas. T. Hicks, Clerk. 



The following gentlemen, in the order named, have served the 
church as trustees: Thomas McCarthy, Patrick Phalen, Frank 
Diel, John A. O'Reilly, Eugene J. Mack, Michael D. McAuliffe 
and John P. Lynch. Messi*s. Mack and Lynch serve at this 
writing. 



CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION. 

OF THE CITIES of Central New York there is scarcely 
one which has made such phenomenal progress and 
such giant strides in the increase of its population as 
the city of Syracuse. The little town of sixty years ago, number- 
ing about 10,000 inhabitants, has grown to be a most populous 
and beautiful city — the envy of its neighbors and the pride of 
its own citizens — sheltering more than 125,000 souls. The same 
wonderful progress shown in the material prosperity of Syracuse 
is also apparent in the world of religious thought and in the 
realm of Catholic activity. Sixty years ago Catholicity had but 
one temple erected to the honor and glory of the Most High, with 
only a small number of worshippers ; to-day almost 40 per cent, 
of the entire population is Catholic, and the Catholic visitor to 
Syracuse beholds, outlined against the blue vault of Heaven, the 
spires and towers of twelve magnificent churches in which the 
Clean Oblation of the New Law is daily offered up to God. 

The year 1843 marks the beginning of the ministration to the 
spiritual wants of the German-speaking Catholics of what now 
constitutes the city of Sj'^racuse. The total number of German 
Catholic families at that time was twenty-four. These were 
attended by a Father Guth, who came to them four times a year 
from Watertown and Croghan to read Mass and administer the 
sacraments and preach to his people in their mother tongue. The 
services on these occasions were held in St. John the Baptist 
church, the Rev. Michael Heas, rector. During the month of 
September, 1844, a Premonstratentian missionary. Rev. Adalbert 
Inama, arrived in Syracuse, sent by the Bishop of Albany with 
a commission to gather the Germans and build a church for 
them. Father Inama thus became the first pastor of the new 
congregation, the mother-parish of the German-speaking Catho- 
lics of Syracuse. "Work was immediately begun looking toward 
the formation of the new parish. Committees were appointed 
and funds collected. The lots upon which the church was to be 
built^ — the identical plat upon which the present church stands— 



64 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

were purchased from the Hon. E. W. Leavenworth for the sum 
of $400. The work of constructing the small frame church, 
which was to have a seating capacity of 400, once begun, was 
rapidly pushed to completion, and on Easter Sunday in the year 
1845, the Germans for the first time worshipped in the little 
church erected through their energy and sacrifice to the greater 
honor and glory of the Mother of God under the title of the 
Assumption. During the winter of 1845 Rev. Father Inama was 
succeeded by Father Roth, who remained until June, 1846, and 
was succeeded by the Rev. Theodore Noethen, a man of profound 
learning and great zeal, who did much to beautify the interior 
and to complete the exterior of the church and caused a bell to 
be hung in the small tower of the new house of God. During 
his pastorate the first parochial school in Syracuse was founded 
and placed in charge of a Mr. Freund, who was succeeded after 
a short time by a Mr. Mueller. The success of Assumption 
School, however, dates from the year 1848, when the late Francis 
Baumer was engaged as teacher of the 48 children then in 
attendance. 

In the month of October, 1849, Father Noethen was trans- 
ferred to the Holy Cross church at Albany. The Rev. Florian 
Schweninger of the Benedictine Order succeeded him as pastor 
and after serving for a year gave way to the Rev. P. Sanderl 
who remained in charge of the church until April, 1851, when 
Rt. Rev. Bishop McCloskey appointed the Rev. Joseph Raffeiner 
to be sixth pastor of the growing parish. By reason of the 
extraordinary immigration from 1848 to 1851 the membership of 
the congregation had so greatly increased that Father Raffeiner 
was obliged to enlarge the church. The edifice was extended in 
the fonn of a cross, and thus completed was sufficiently large to 
accommodate one thousand people. In INIay, 1855, the Rev. 
Frederick Mueller succeeded to the rectorship of the congrega- 
tion, but remained only until October, 1856, being replaced by 
the Rev. Joseph Lutz, who was the last secular priest to serve 
the church in the capacity of pastor. Father Lutz was in charge 
until February, 1859. 

March, 1859, marks a new era in the history of the Church of 
the Assumption and its best success dates from this time, when 
the Fathers Minor Conventuals of St. Francis took charge. The 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 65 

first Conventual to arrive in Syracuse was the Rev. Ladislaus 
Korten, 0. M. C, whose name appears on the parish records as 
having administered the Sacrament of Baptism on the 10th day 
of March, 1859. Rev. Alphonse M. Zoeller, 0. M. C, was the 
first rector under the new regime. He served until June, 1860, 
being succeeded by the Rev. Edmund M. DePaun, 0. M. C, who 
remained in charge until January, 1862, when the Rev. Alphonse 
Zoeller returned to serve until September of the same year. His 
successor was the zealous Father Norbert Stoller, 0. M. C. 
During his administration the present magnificent edifice and 
the first convent were erected. The laying of the cornerstone of 
the new church took place in the year 1865 and it was conse- 
crated on May 5, 1867. It is of interest to note that the old 
frame church was left intact and was used for divine service 
until the new structure stood completed about it. 

In September, 1868, Father Norbert was succeeded in office 
by the Very Rev. Fidelis Dehm, 0. M. C, Commissary-General 
of the Order, who continued as rector until January, 1878, being 
called to Rome and there consecrated Bishop of Moldavia. 
During the ten years of his rectorate the lofty towers of Assump- 
tion church, visible from all parts of the city, were constructed, 
and the belfry furnished with four large bells. His memory is 
still fresh among the people of Syracuse, who remember "Good 
Father Commissary" for his learning, zeal and piety. He was 
succeeded by Father Norbert, who came again as pastor and 
remained until October, 1879, when the Rev. Leonard Reich, 
O. M. C, succeeded him. In the year 1880, during his adminis- 
tration, the large school on North Salina street, now used ex- 
clusively for boys' classes, was built. In January of 1881 a 
new rector came in the person of the Rev. Alexis Rossbauer, 
0. M. C, whose successful pastorate terminated August, 1883. 
Thereupon the destinies of the church were once more entrusted 
to the able and conscientious Father Leonard Reich, who for a 
period of almost five years kept up the high standard of the 
congregation. 

In May, 1888, the Chapter of the Order, held at Syracuse, 
elected the very Rev. Dr. Louis M. Miller, 0. M. C, as pastor of 
the church. It was during Rev. Dr. Miller's term that the 
lamented Francis Baumer, the city's most distinguished German- 



66 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

American citizen, presented to the church the splendid Stations 
of the Cross, which he had imported from IMunich at a cost of 
$1,700, and the Holy Angels candelabra now at either side of 
the main altar. In October, 1889, the Rev. Dr. :Miller was trans- 
ferred to Albany and the Rev. Bona venture ZoUer, 0. M. C, 
succeeded him. Father Bonaventure erected the magnificent 
new girls' school and Sisters' residence, one of the handsomest 
and most complete buildings in the diocese. He also opened up 
the new Assumption cemetery. About this time Francis Baumer, 
upon his return from a visit to the renowned shrine of Our Lady 
of Lourdes, caused a reproduction of the famous Grotto to be 
made in the church basement, and also had constructed a chapel 
whose central figure is Christ in prison at the scourging pillar. 
In the fall of 1895 the Rev. Alphonse Lehrscholl, D. D., O. M. C, 
was made rector of the parish. He labored most energetically 
to beautify the interior of the church. A series of twelve very 
artistic stained glass windows, made by the world-famed Tyrolese 
Art Glass Company of Innsbruck, a magnificent organ, built at 
a cost of $9,000, an electric display consisting of over 1,300 
lights, and the beautiful Sacred Heart Grotto and the Chapel of 
St. Anthony in the north basement, are among the improvements 
made during Father Alphonse 's incumbency. In July, 1898, 
the church was struck by lightning and a great storm caused 
$3,000 damage. 

With his election to the Provincialate of the order the Very 
Rev. Dr. Louis M. Miller, 0. M. C, became pastor of the Church 
of the Assumption, his term extending to January 1, 1903. 
During these three yeai-s and a half it was his first care to take 
off the shoulders of his children the hea^y weight of debt that 
rested upon them. How admirably he succeeded the small debt 
existing January 1, 1903, clearly shows. Only a $26,000 indebt- 
edness on the church property, which is conservatively figured 
as worth more than one-third of a million dollars remained, 
more than $22,000 having been paid during his pastorate. Dr. 
Miller is a man of profound learning and is an acknowledged 
leader in the realm of religious science. His extraordinary 
executive ability was recognized in re-election as Provincial of 
the Minor Conventuals, given him in the chapter held at Trenton, 
N. J. Feeling that the increasing cares of the Provincialate and 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 67 

his necessary absence from home took him away from his duties 
as pastor, he appointed on January 1, 1903, the Rev. Berard 
Schweitzer, 0. M. C, as his successor in the pastorate and named 
him Superior of the Convent. 

During the four years of his term of office the present pastor 
has carried out with marked success the plan of action mapped 
out by him when he assumed office. The church debt of more 
than twenty-six thousand dollars was cancelled in the first two 
years of his incumbency. Over two years ago, with the aid of the 
good people of Assumption and its many friends, the erection 
of the New St. Francis College and Convent was undertaken and 
now the substantial and beautiful building which is the pride 
of every North Side citizen is almost entirely completed and will 
ever remain a monument to the untiring efforts of the Franciscan 
Fathers and the good will and generosity of the faithful German 
Catholic men and women of the North Side. 

Assumption School, which is the pride of every member of the 
congregation, is in a most flourishing condition. The 1,200 chil- 
dren in attendance are under the efficient instruction of the 
Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, known the world over 
as great educators. 

This chronicle would not be complete without mentioning the 
gratifying fact that fifteen young men from Assumption congre- 
gation aspiring to the priesthood have entered the Franciscan 
Order. Seven of these have been ordained and are holding 
responsible positions in various places. They are: Rev, Peter 
W. Scharoun, 0. M. C, rector St. Joseph's church, Utica, N. Y, ; 
Rev. Bernardine Ludwig, 0. M. C, rector Church of Immacu- 
late Conception, Trenton, N. J. ; Rev. Aegidius Block, O. M. C, 
Utica, N. Y.; Rev. William Peberl, O. M. C, Camden, N. J.; 
Rev. Ferdinand Mayer, D. C. L., O. M. C, Master of Clerics, 
Trenton, N. J. ; Rev. Boniface Hennig, D. D., 0. M. C, Master 
of Clerics, Albany, N. Y. ; Rev. Camillus Eichenlaub, S. T. L., 
rector St. Anthony's church, Jeffersonville, Ind. 



ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST. 

IN September, 1852, Right Rev. Bishop MeCloskey appointed 
Rev. John McMenomy, of Irish birth, pastor of a new church 
to be built in Syracuse. Father ]\IcI\Ienomy left Little Falls 
and repaired to Syracuse, where the lot for the new church was 
purchased in October, 1852. The following spring ground was 
broken for the new church and on June 16th the cornerstone 
was laid by Bishop MeCloskey. Father ]\Ic]\Ienomy stayed with 
Father Heas of St. IMary's church and assisted him on Sundays 
until Easter Sunday of 1855, when he celebrated INIass in the 
basement of the new church. The occasion was impressive. A 
choir came from Albany. The pastor preached the most eloquent 
sermon of his life. He was wannly congratulated by the leaders 
of the movement for the new church, among whom were Cor- 
nelius LjTich, Michael Gleason, Doctor Foran, Dennis McCarthy, 
the Clancy brothers, David, Patrick and William Hall, IMatthew 
and John IMurphy, Captain Pendergast, Nicholas Downs, Charles 
Manahan, James and Charles INIcGurk, and the Stanton, Kinney, 
Foley, Taylor and Dolphin families. 

The new parish began with three or four hundred families. 
The records of marriages and baptisms were probably kept in 
St. Mary's until January, 1856. The record of marriages from 
January, 1856, to autumn of 1858 was stolen from the vestry, 
probably when it was burglarized. On December 16, 1855, the 
church was dedicated by Bishop MeCloskey, assisted by Bishop 
Timon of Buffalo and sixteen priests. Father John, as he was 
called, remained its pastor until 1867. No other priest but he 
attended its people in the initial years, but Father Heas pro- 
moted St. John's interest in every way. Father John's health 
failing, he was given an assistant about the year 1866, in the 
person of the Rev. Ambrose O'Neil. The new assistant's preach- 
ing and talents attracted the admiration of the entire city. St. 
John's church was for many years unpainted on the outside, 
without steeple or parochial residence, except a small part of the 
rear which had been fitted up for a rectory. Father John pur- 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 69 

chased the residence on the northeast corner of James and State 
streets during his period of poor health, but as he did not im- 
prove in his new quarters he moved back to the rectory in the 
rear of the church. 

Father John built a small, neat school house in the 
rear of the lot now occupied by the Sisters of St. Joseph, 
and opening on Pearl street. He introduced into this school of 
one hundred pupils the Christian Brothers. They have re- 
mained since with a short interval of absence. In 1901 they 
moved into their present place, corner of State and Willow, and 
since have there erected their splendid academy. They teach 
the parochial school jointly with the Sisters of St. Joseph. The 
school is chartered by the State Board of Regents, 

In 1867 Father O^Neil was recalled east and Father 
MeMenomy continuing in feeble health, a pastor pro-tem 
was appointed in the person of Rev. B. F. McLoughlin, also of 
Irish parentage, who was called from Little Falls. Father Mc- 
Loughlin shared the humble rectory in the rear of the church 
with Father John from June to November, 1867. Then Father 
John moved to Albany and Father McLoughlin was appointed 
to Cortland where he later died, full of years and with the affec- 
tion of all who knew him. Father MeMenomy filled a short pas- 
torate at Green Island and was then placed in charge of Sara- 
toga. He lived there to a green old age and died there seven 
years ago. To the last moment of his life he loved St. John's, 
Syracuse, and spoke tenderly of it. On the going of Father 
McLoughlin to Cortland the Rev. Joseph Guerdet, of French 
birth, was called from St. Mary's, Oswego, and took charge of 
St, John's. Father Guerdet was a careful financier and slowly 
and economically improved the church property. He painted 
the exterior of the church, built the steeple, erected a new and 
magnificent parochial residence and about 1875 fitted the old 
rectory in the rear of the church for the Sisters of St. Joseph. 
He later introduced them into the school where they still labor 
piously and successfully. When in 1882 the West Shore Rail- 
road was built, Father Guerdet received $25,000 for a part of 
the church lot including the Brothers' school. Father Guerdet 
invested this money in the new and splendid school on the comer 
of State and Hickory streets. 



70 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Father Guerdet had many assistants. They each served a 
shorter or longer term, but the average service was about two 
years. Father 'Neil was sent back for a short time. Between 
1867 and 1883 there were Fathers Muldoon and O'Connell 
Fathers J. S. M. Lynch, Reilly, John Hanlon, Patrick Brady, 
Roger "Ward, Thomas 'Connor and M. Mearns. His last assist- 
ant was Rev. T. W. Reilly, who also served his successors and 
was appointed in 1890 to Whitesboro, where he died. Father 
Guerdet resigning on account of feeble health. Bishop McNeirney 
appointed Dr. Moriarty from Chatham pastor in 1883. Dr. Mori- 
arty was of Irish parentage, was much esteemed by the Protest- 
ants, among whom he made many converts. He remained pastor 
until 1887 when he was assigned by Bishop Ludden to St. John's 
church, Utica, where he died after a little more than a year's 
incumbency. 

When Syracuse became an Episcopal See, Bishop Ludden 
chose St. John's church for his Cathedral and appointed his 
Vicar-General, Very Rev. Dr. Lynch, as its rector. Dr. Lynch, 
an American by birth, immediately set to work to enlarge the 
Sanctuary, and to build a vestry befitting a Cathedral. He 
decorated the church and doubled the capacity of the school, 
giving it academic grades. He labored with earnest zeal and 
success until 1891 when he was transferred to St. John's church, 
Utica. He there continues his zealous and most successful labors. 
Bishop Ludden called to the rectorship ]Michael Clune, of Irish 
birth, from St. Matthew's church, East Syracuse, which he had 
founded under orders from Bishop McNeirney. In the Cathe- 
dral he met with instant and kind co-operation from the entire 
congregation. With him were the Rev. William F. Dougherty, 
who had so ably assisted Dr. Lynch, and the Rev. Joseph A. 
Hopkins. 

When St. John's church was built it was the fourth Catholic 
church in Syracuse, and drew its people from St. Mary's on the 
south and from St. John the Baptist's on the north. During its 
existence of nearly fifty years many congregations have gone 
forth from it. St. Patrick's, Geddes, was begun by Dr. Lynch 
when he was assistant at St. John's. Later, in 1872, St. Lucy's 
congregation was formed from St. John's and St. Mary's. St. 
Matthew's, East Syracuse, was erected in the territory of St. 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 71 

John's, although peopled largely from St. Mary's congregation. 
St. John's last offspring is St. Vincent de Paul's in old Lodi. 
In 1894 Father Dougherty was appointed pastor of the new 
church. In the fall of 1894 an Italian congregation was organ- 
ized in the basement of St. John's. Their new congregation in 
1895 purchased St. Mark's church from the Lutherans which, 
as St. Peter's, became the twelfth Catholic church in Syracuse. 

The Rev. Joseph S. Tiernan, the R«v. Charles V. McGuire, the 
Rev. William H. Slaven, the Rev. Bernard Quinn and the Rev. T. 
O 'Sullivan, a priest from Ireland who had a brief residence in 
the diocese, served short terms as assistant priests. Father Hop- 
kins was taken sick in 1895 and when he recovered went to Os- 
wego, where he is now the benevolent and zealous pastor of St. 
Mary's church. Rev. J. V, Byrne was with St. John's temporar- 
ily until the ordination of Father Ambrose M. Dwyer. In 1896 
Rev. John A. McGraw was assigned to the Cathedral. In 1903 
Father Dwyer was given a pastorate in Lestershire, and Father 
McGraw went to Rome to complete his studies in the Canon Law. 
They were both exemplary and successful priests. Fathers Chris- 
topher J. Donigan and Richard J. Shanahan were assigned to 
their places. 

The Living Rosary society was introduced in the parish by 
Father Donigan and the Holy Name society was reorganized 
and revivified through the efforts of Father Shanahan. These 
young priests worked zealously and successfully paving the 
way for a two-weeks' mission which was the occasion of a great 
spiritual awakening in the parish. On the afternoon before the 
mission's close, God sent, in the tragic death of the beloved 
Father Donigan, a piteous affliction. 

Relieved by the Paulist Fathers of the Saturday confession 
hours, jubilant at the assured success of the mission, and feeling 
the need of recreation, Fathers Donigan and Shanahan repaired 
to the Intercollegiate football game at Star Park. Early in the 
game the bleacherstand suddenly collapsed. In its fall the spine 
of Father Donigan was fractured between the sixth and eighth 
vertebrae. A surgical operation performed in effort to save his 
life proved fruitless. After hours of terrible suffering the gentle 
soul of the faithful young priest went back to God Monday after- 
noon, October 29, 1906. 



72 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Father Donigan was one of the youngest and most energetic 
priests in the diocese of Syracuse. Born at Binghamton April 
7, 1876, he completed his classical course at Niagara University, 
and after graduation, made his theological studies at St. Ber- 
nard's Seminary in Rochester. In 1903 he was ordained to the 
priesthood and after three months was assigned to Syracuse. 
In his college career he was somewhat of an athlete and never 
lost interest in innocent athletics. As a young priest, he was 
thoughtful, patient and an indefatigable toiler, and as a preacher 
eloquent and earnest. His ideals were high, but he lived up to 
them. There was an influence about him which was in the high- 
est sense productive of good. He was an uplifter of men, and 
everyone predicted for him a long and brilliant career. Out of 
respect Police Justice Shove postponed his court, in which 
Father Donigan was an efficient probate officer, and Chancellor 
Day suspended exercises in all the colleges of Syracuse Univers- 
ity while the funeral ceremonies were being held. In the con- 
gregation which filled St. John's to the very doors were clergy 
and laymen from many of the prominent Methodist, Episco- 
palian and other Protestant denominations in Syracuse. Hun- 
dreds formed in the procession to the station when the body was 
sent to Binghamton for burial. A bronze memorial tablet, the 
gift of a parishioner, has been placed in the church. 

The Rev. William J. Christian was ordained priest in Decem- 
ber, 1906, and was assigned to St. John 's. 

St. John's has about nine hundred English speaking families, 
mostly of Irish descent. It has a school worth .$40,000, educating 
500 children. It has a rectory that cost Father Guerdet $22,000, 
and that he sold to the parish for $15,000. It has a convent 
worth about $10,000. The church itself cost more than $100,000 
and the property is assessed $213,000. 

During 1905 extensive alterations were made in the church 
property. Chancel organs were placed, electric lights installed, 
emergency exits made near the altar rail on either side and the 
vestibules and organ-loft rebuilt. In 1907 a third story was 
added to the rectory. The debt is $12,000. 

St. John's is happy and prosperous. It ceased to be a Cathe- 
dral in 1903 when Bishop Ludden moved into the magnificent 
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. It has pleasant mem- 



CITY OF SYRACUSE 73 

ories of the days when it was a Cathedral, and hopes to always 
keep the traditions of those days. 



The first trustees of St. John's church were Michael Gleason 
and Dennis INIcCarthy. The latter was a dry goods merchant, 
a man of wealth and distinction, who served several terms in the 
State Senate and in Congress. Mr. Gleason had large interests 
in the salt industry and Avas a representative Irish-born citizen. 
When St. John's parish was in the making he accompanied 
Father John on his weekly rounds, seeking out parishioners and 
collecting the weekly offering. It should be mentioned here that 
those same Irish immigrants who gave what they could afford 
cheerfully and with good grace when called upon also gave their 
services to the building of the church. The excavation and other 
rough work was done at night and without cost to the parish, 
even as the same work was done by Polish immigrants in Syra- 
cuse in 1907, St. John's was built while the tide of Irish immi- 
gration was at its height. Thousands of these exiles found 
hospice here, and of such the new congregation in greater part 
was made up. The Knownothing party was still rampant and 
numbered many fanatical adherents in Syracuse. In those 
troublous times Michael Gleason was the counsellor of his people. 
Many living to-day remember that St. Patrick's Day, in 1847 
or '48, when, as the Irish were gathering for the time-honored 
parade, it was discovered that an effigy of St. Patrick, with strings 
of codfish and potatoes hanging from the neck, swung with the 
breeze at the top of the town "Liberty-pole" in the square at 
Salina and "Water streets. The authorities refusing the request 
of a committee that the effigy be removed, on the ground that the 
act "might provoke a riot," Michael Gleason felled the pole, and, 
says an old account, "There was no demonstration tending to 
any unlawful proceedings because of the pole." Nor was similar 
insult offered thereafter. 

Mr. Gleason died March 29, 1863. The Syracuse Courier and 
Union in its issue of March 31, said: "The death of Michael 
Gleason, a prominent and sterling Irish citizen, which melancholy 
event occurred early on Saturday morning, cast a sudden gloom 
over his many friends in this city at the unexpectedness of the 



74 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

fatal event. He was a man of warm affection, great integrity of 
character and possessed of high moral worth, while his Christian 
life leaves an example for others to follow. 

' ' He was for many years connected with the committee having 
in charge the financial affairs of St. John's church and at the 
time of his death occupied the vice-president's chair of St. 
John's Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society connected 
with the church, in all of which his active and zealous efforts in 
the cause of religion made him a valuable member and one who 
will be greatly missed. 

"The funeral took place at St. John's church yesterday fore- 
noon where a solemn requiem Mass was chanted. Father John 
McMenomy was the celebrant, assisted by Father O'Hara of St. 
Mary's and Father Sheehan of St. John's church, Salina. The 
various conferences of St. Vincent de Paul's society were out in 
full force to pay the last honor and marks of respect to the 
lamented dead. * * * * ^he church was densely packed 
throughout with the friends and acquaintances of the deceased 
and nearly every religious denomination in our city had repre- 
sentatives present eager to pay the last mark of respect to a 
worthy citizen. 

"At the conclusion of the funeral services. Father John de- 
livered a glowing panegyric over the remains, that went to the 
hearts of everyone present, and sobs and tears responded to his 
feeling and touching discourse. The manly form that was so 
often seen walking up the aisles of that church will be seen there 
no more ; the heart that joyed over the success of any religious 
enterprise connected with that church is now settled in death 
and will never again beat responsive to the calls of charity or 
the noble impulses that always inspired it to deeds of benevo- 
lence. The moist eyes in that vast congregation spoke an eloquent 
tribute to the worth of the deceased and indicated how many 
felt his love and mourned with the family to whom he was more 
than a father. The funeral procession that followed the remains 
to their final resting place in the Catholic cemetery was the 
largest witnessed in this city since that of the lamented Fathers 
Heas and Hackett, and besides the procession a large concourse 
of citizens followed it in the streets and upon the sidewalks. 
Some estimate of it may be gathered when we state that as the 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 75 

head of the procession extended down through South Salina 
street and turned into Jefferson, the rear of it was at the Voor- 
hees House, across the Salina street bridge. In compliance with 
the regulations for burial in the Catholic Church, no carriages 
were used." 

The lay trustees at this time are Edward Joy and John Burke 
and between these and the first is a long line distinguished for 
faithfulness and efficiency. Of these were three whose long 
terms of service expired only with death — Matthew Murphy, 
John McGuire and Joseph P. Bourke. 



ST. JOSEPH^S (FRENCH) CHURCH 

THE French Catholic congregation of Syracuse was organ- 
ized in the summer of 1869. The pioneers were : Joseph 
Beuchat, Louis Rodier and Odilon Duplessis, members of 
the Lafayette Club. A substantial brick building, with a seating 
capacity of 500, formerly used as a Protestant Church, centrally 
situated in East Genesee street, was purchased for the sum of 
$5,000, and Avith the approbation of Bishop Conroy, of Albany, 
was placed under the patronage of St. Joseph. The first Mass 
was celebrated in it on the Feast of All Saints, 1869, by the Rev. 
Joseph Guerdet, then pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church. 

Among those present were : Joseph Beauchat, Louis Rodier, 
Odilon Duplessis, Napoleon Bichette, Justin Beauchat, Amable 
Lavaute, Aime Haraois, Louis Hamois, Edward Lavaute, Isidore 
Pothier, Charles Duplessis, Odilon Vadeboncoeur, Georges La- 
rose, Narcisse Lavaute, Francois Lavaute, Francois Lefreniere, 
Joseph Gibeau, Romuald Tanguay, Jean Loranger, Edward La- 
montagne, Charles Lamontagne, Ambrose Jodoin, Isidore Poulict 
and Pierre Hamel. 

The Rev. Joseph Quevillon was appointed rector of the new 
congregation by Bishop Conroy of Albany, and remained till the 
spring of 1871. He was succeeded by the Rev. L. Robillard, who 
labored successfully in the new parish for twelve years. Several 
improvements were made under his administration, and the con- 
gregation continued to increase in number. 

The Rev. Joseph Brauillet took charge of the parish in Janu- 
ary, 1882, and built a new vestry and temporary residence. A 
parochial school was also started, but failed, owing to the fact 
that the congregation was scattered and most of the children 
lived at a considerable distance from the church. Father Brauil- 
let was called to a position of greater responsibility at Worcester, 
Mass., and in the summer of 1883, the Rev. C. Guay, who had 
retired from the active exercise of his functions, was sent by the 
Bishop to take charge temporarily. He left after seven months' 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 77 

The Rev. B. C. Thibault, then pastor of the Church of the 
Assumption at Albany, was appointed rector in Februarj^, 1884, 
and still ministers to the needs of the congregation with marked 
success. During his administration the Church has been trans- 
formed into a dignified place of worship, with modern improve- 
ments. A parochial residence has been built beside the church, 
and both church and house are free of debt. 

The first Mass thirty-five years ago was attended by about 200 
persons. To-day the congregation consists of the same number of 
families, living in different parts of the city, and is one of the 
most active in the life of devotion and good works which con- 
tribute so considerably to the spiritual treasury of the Diocese of 
Syracuse. 



ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH 

THE Rt. Eev. John J. Conroy. D. D., Bishop of Albany, in 
June. 1870. authorized the formation of St. Patrick's 
church. In the parish were all of the Catholics residing 
in what was at that time the village and town of Geddes, the 
population of which was about 1,000. Previous to the formation 
of the parish the spiritual needs of the Catholics were supplied 
through Rev. Joseph Guerdet, pastor of St. John the Evangelist 
church. Syracuse. One of his assistants. Rev. Ambrose M. 
O'Neill, in 1868. organized a Sunday school in the village of 
Geddes. It is a singular fact that a Protestant gentleman called 
on Father Guerdet and requested him to organize a Sunday 
school as a means of improving the morals of the youth of the 
village. St. Patrick's Total Abstinence Society was organized 
about the same time. 

Rev. Hugh Shields was appointed the first pastor of the par- 
ish and on Sunday morning. July 31. 1870. he celebrated Mass 
for the first time in Cool 's Hall, No. 101 Hamilton street. There 
were about 70 worshippers present. Among those who heard the 
first Mass were the following gentlemen and members of their 
families: John Cody, the present auditor of St. Patrick's, who 
built the altar and served at the Mass, Bernard Sisson and 
Dennis Callahan who were the first trustees of the church, Wil- 
liam Hogan, Jeremiah Dw;\'er, Timothy Sheehan, James Keeler, 
John Barager. Malaehy Gooley, Michael O'Brien, James M. 
Farrell. Thomas ^leagher, Cornelius Enright, John Fitzpatrick, 
Edward Fitzpatrick, Richard Tobin, Timothy Enright, John 
Brown. Philip McGraw, Patrick Fogerty. Patrick Parkinson, 
John Holihan, Joseph Donegan, John English, Michael Brown, 
James Lanigan, John Moriarity, Patrick Hannon, John Mat- 
thews. John ]\Iurray and ^Mr. 'Connell. 

The first baptism in the parish occurred on Sunday, August 
7, 1870, when the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. James "White was 
christened James Lawrence, the sponsors being John Cummings 
and Miss Ellen Collins. 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 79 

On Wednesday, Xovember 2. 1870. the first marriage ceremony 
was performed by Father Shields, the contracting parties being 
Miss Bridget Murphy and Thomas Savage. The witnesses were 
Miss Catharine Murphy and John Lacy. 

The first confirmation was held on Sunday, September 15, 
1872, when Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirney, D. D., Coadjutor- 
Bishop of Albany, administered the sacrament to a class of 300 
boys and girls. 

The first superintendent of the Sunday school was John Cody. 
The first Sunday school teacher was Miss ]\Iargaret Dunigan, 
who is still an active worker in the church. 

The health of Father Shields suddenly failed and early in the 
fall of 1870 he was obliged to resign his pastorate. He was a 
priest of unusual talent. He had a remarkably successful record 
in college and in the seminary. After being ordained. Bishop 
Conroy sent him to the Universitv^ of Louvain, Belgium, where 
he studied philosophy. Upon his return from Europe in 1869 
he taught philosophy for one year in St. Joseph's Seminary, 
Troy. He resigned from the faculty of the Troy Seminary to 
take charge of the new St. Patrick's parish. 

Upon the resignation of Father Shields. Father Guerdet was 
directed by Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, to take 
charge of the affairs of the new parish. He sent his assistant 
priest, Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, the present Monsignor L;^Tich, pastor 
of St. John's church, Utica, to attend the new congregation, to 
celebrate ]\Iass on Sundays and take charge of the Sunday school. 
Father Ljmch was soon convinced that the needs of the people 
required a priest to be in constant attendance and with the con- 
sent of Father Guerdet and the implied approval of Bishop 
Conroy, Father Lynch took up his residence in Geddes on Febru- 
ary 1, 1871, and became the second pastor of St. Patrick's 
church. 

Father Lynch soon found that Cool's Hall was not a suitable 
place of worship for the now growing congregation and he was 
permitted by the school board of the town of Geddes to fit up 
the basement of Porter school as a chapel and celebrate Mass 
there on Sundays and week-days. It was a very edifying sight, 
much commented on at the time, to see all of the Catholic chil- 
dren of the tovm going to Mass before school every dav during 



80 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Lent, in the very building where they pursued their secular 
studies. 

In the early part of 1870 Rev. Father Guerdet commissioned 
Dr. Gregory Doyle to purchase a site for a new church and the 
property at the corner of Lowell avenue and Schuyler street 
was bought for $2,800. It had a frontage of 132 feet on Lowell 
avenue and 180 feet on Schuyler street. Father Guerdet deeded 
the lots to the congregation at the price paid for them by Dr. 
Doyle, as he had simply held them in trust for the future parish. 
Ground was broken for the new church in the summer of 1870. 

During the pastorate of Father Lynch the members of the 
congregation were divided in their views touching the location 
of the new church. A large portion were satisfied with the site 
secured and an equally large part of the congregation were of 
the opinion that a lot further west on Genesee street should be 
selected. Many leading non-Catholics were vigorous in their 
opposition to the erection of a Catholic church on the site chosen 
and these gentlemen raised by subscription $2,500 which they 
offered as a donation to the church on condition that another 
site would be selected. Several meetings of the congregation 
were held to discuss the matter and finally by a unanimous vote 
it was decided to leave the whole matter to Father Lynch, both 
parties pledging themselves to abide by his decision. He decided 
that the new church should be erected on the present site. 

The next move of Father Lynch was to secure a building fund 
by a house to house subscription. In a few months he had col- 
lected enough funds to build the basement of the church. When 
finished it was entirely paid for. The plans for the church were 
drawn by Architect Charles H. Nichols of iVlbany, he conforming 
to the Gothic style of architecture. Philip Smith of Albany was 
awarded the contract for the building, the masonry and car- 
penter work to cost $28,500. 

The cornerstone of, the new church was laid by Very Rev. 
Edgar P. Wadhams, then Vicar-General and Administrator of 
the Diocese of Albany, on Sunday, June 4, 1871. Rev. Patrick 
F. Smith of Camillus preached the sermon. 

On August 10, 1871, Father Lynch was summoned to Albany 
by Bishop Conroy and appointed Director of St. Joseph's Pro- 
vincial Seminal-^'. Troy, and began his duties at once. Rev. 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 81 

Patrick F. Smith of Camillus was appointed the third pastor of 
St. Patrick's church. 

Father Lynch 's labors in St. Patrick's parish will ever be 
remembered in Syracuse. He worked unremittingly for the 
benefit of the parish and his work was crowned with success. 
His energy and zeal were manifested in no unmistakable way 
and under his guidance the church grew and prospered. His 
successor, Father Smith, continued the work of completing the 
new church and on Sunday, September 15, 1872, it was dedicated 
by Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny, D. D., Bishop of Albany. Rev. 
James Duffy of St. John the Baptist church, Syracuse, preached 
the dedicatory sermon. The Solemn Mass of Dedication was 
celebrated by Rev. J. S. M. Lynch. 

The growth of St. Patrick's parish during the pastorate of 
Father Smith was marveloiis. Its membership was trebled. He 
built a parochial residence at a cost of $3,000. Charles Umbrecht 
of Syracuse had the contract. Father Smith was faithful and 
diligent in advancing the spiritual welfare of all under his 
charge. 

To the great regret of the entire community, Father Smith, 
at his own request, was transferred to the important parish of 
St. Mary's, Hudson, N. Y., on October 7, 1875, and Rev. James 
P. Magee, pastor of St. Joseph's church. Fort Edward, N. Y., 
was appointed the fourth pastor. 

When Father Magee took charge of St. Patrick's church the 
debt was $30,000. During the early part of his pastorate he had 
many things to contend with. There was a business depression 
in Geddes and not until the Solvay Process Company's immense 
works were started did the pastor find relief in clearing many 
outstanding obligations. His parishioners were faithful, loyal 
and brave and weathered the financial storm, even to cancelling 
a note for $5,000, which they had assumed. The church prop- 
erty, valued at $80,000, is entirely free of debt and the building 
fund for the erection of a parochial school amounts to upwards 
of $21,000. The construction of this building is to be commenced 
this year, the plans calling for a stone and brick structure, con- 
sisting of eight rooms and an auditorium, the latter to be used as 
a meeting hall for the societies of the parish. The building is to 
cost $35,000. 



82 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Father Magee was born in St. Johns, N. B., and received his 
preliminary education at St. Mary's of the Hermitage and King's 
College, Fredericton, X. B. He came to Syracuse in 1859, 
when sixteen years of age, and in the following year taught in St. 
Mary 's parochial school, supplying for a Mr. Boyle, master. Later 
he attended Niagara College and was ordained priest at Troy in 
1867, one of the first residents of the present city of Syracuse to 
receive Holy Orders. In passing, it may be noted that the Rev. 
Dominick L^Tich, ordained some years before, has the distinction 
of being the first native of Onondaga County to enter the priest- 
hood. He was stationed for some years at Yonkers, New York. 
The first native of the diocese to attain episcopal rank was a resi- 
dent of Oneida, Father Meyers, of the Marist Fathers, who be- 
came Bishop of ]\Iadras, India. 

The building of a parish school will be the crowning achieve- 
ment of a pastorate Avhich has lasted more than a third of a cen- 
tury and which has been attended by splendid spiritual growth 
and material prosperity. 

Father Magee has made many improvements in St. Patrick's. 
Side altars were purchased ; a steam heating plant was installed 
in the church and parochial residence and the latter was enlarged 
and supplied with many modern conveniences. Having in mind 
the erection of a parochial school he bought on September 30, 
1887, after being authorized by Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, 
D. D., Bishop of Syracuse, and the church trustees, from the 
Mead Belden estate a plot of land opposite the church for $8,000. 

Many well know^n priests have been connected with St. 
Patrick's church. All of them rendered great service in the 
cause of religion and to them is due no small measure of the 
credit for the splendid progress, both spiritual and material, 
that has been made since the parish was organized. The assistant 
priests have been as follows: Rev. Patrick Kearney, 1874 to 
1876; Rt. Rev. P. F. McEvoy, S. T. D., Vicar-General of the 
Syracuse diocese, March 27, 1886, to July 12, 1887 : Rev. Philip 
F. Herrick, July 12 to November 2, 1887 ; Rev. John C. Higgins, 
November 2, 1887, to November 6, 1890 ; Rev. Thadeus O 'Sulli- 
van, November 6, 1890, to February 1, 1893 : Rev. James Walsh, 
February 1, 1893, to April 1, 1893; Rev. James Duffy, April 
1, 1893, to May 19, 1893 ; Rev. Patrick Donohoe, July 10, 1893, 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 83 

to October 28, 1902 ; Rev. Leo Finley, the present assistant pas- 
tor, was appointed November 18, 1902. 

All of the priests who have served the people of St. Patrick's 
church are of Irish parentage. A majority of the present con- 
gregation are of Irish descent. The parish now numbers about 
600 families. About 2,800 persons regularly attend this church. 

Every priest whose name is identified with the church is 
gratefully remembered by the congregation. By his fervent and 
deeply religious work in the Bible classes Father McEvoy was 
the means of having several young ladies in the parish join 
religious orders. Father Higgins was noted for his effective 
labors in cultivating the study of music among the young of the 
parish. Father Donohoe devoted much of his time to the young 
men, especially in the line of literature and in giving helpful 
hints regarding healthful exercises. He it was who organized 
St. Patrick's branch of the Knights of St. John. 

St. Patrick's church has given to the holy priesthood and to 
the religious orders many distinguished members. The following 
have been ordained to the priesthood: Rev. William A. Ryan, 
Ph. D., pastor of St. Agnes' church, Utiea; Rev. Michael Horan, 
pastor of St. John the Baptist church, Valatie, N. Y. ; Rev. 
James F. McNamara, first assistant pastor Church of the Holy 
Innocents, New York city; Rev. John A. McGraw, S. T. D., 
J. C. D., pastor of St. Mary's, Baldwinsville ; Rev. James P. Mc- 
Graw, who received the degree of S. T. L. in the Catholic 
University, Washington, Chancellor of the Syracuse diocese; 
Rev. Richard J. Shanahan, assistant pastor of St. John the 
Evangelist church, Syracuse; Rev. John P. Shanahan, assistant 
pastor, St. Agnes' church, Utica; Rev. Thomas Powers, of Par- 
sons, Kansas. 

To the religious orders the parish contributed the following 
members: John Callahan, son of M. H. Callahan, is a novice 
at St. Paul 's IMonastery, conducted by the Passionist Fathers, at 
Pittsburg ; Brother Girardus, son of Jeremiah Dwyer, Provincial 
of the Christian Brothers in the western province of the United 
States ; Miss Emma Dwyer, sister of Brother Girardus, Sister of 
Charity stationed at St. Louis; Miss Kate Lanigan, Sister of 
Mercy, Chicago ; Miss Elizabeth Ryan, daughter of Martin Ryan, 
was a Sister of Charity at St. Louis, now deceased ; Miss Mary 



84 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Brown. kno\NTi in the religious world as Sister ^Mary Beatrice, 
is a Sister of ^lercy at Niagara Falls: Miss Nellie Cody, daugh- 
ter of Mr. and ^Nlrs. John Cody, jr.. Sister of Mercy at Batavia; 
Miss Laura Dusard, daughter of Mr. and ^Irs. Daniel Dusard, 
Sister of St. Ann. "Worcester, ^Mass. : Miss ^Targaret Burke, a 
Sister of St. Joseph at St. Louis. ^Missouri : ^Nliss Theresa Cotter, 
a Franciscan Sister at St. Anthony's Convent. Syracuse, and 
the blisses Nora Whalen. Anna ^filler and Nellie Bateman, Sis- 
ters of St. Joseph at St. Joseph's Convent, Troy. 

Some of the notable gifts to the church are : Handsome set of 
Stations by ^Mi-s. ^Margaret Carsoll in memory of her father, 
Timothy Enright ; St. Joseph 's altar, by the members of Branch 
No. 38, L. C. B. A. ; Blessed Virgin's altar, by the late Dr. C. K. 
Magee: Statue of the Blessed Virgin INIary. by the Children of 
ISIary Sodality. 

The windows in the church were donated by the following 
persons: Sanctuary windows, Daniel and ^lichael Coakley, ^Irs. 
^Michael 'Brien. Dr. N. L. Mulvey, Mrs. John and Ella Murray, 
Dennis ^IcDonald. Gospel Side, by James Wall, Wolf family, 
William Hogan, Thomas and Julia Ahem. John Cody, John 
Murray. Epistle side, by Mary ^Moriarity. Terence E. Hogan, 
Parkinson family. William J. Hart. Richard Tobin. Dennis Cal- 
laghan. Upper windows, by ^largaret Donovan. Ann Cunning- 
ham, Rev. P. F. Smith. Ann Callaghan, Hanora Conway, Mar- 
garet Hutchinson, Mary Geary. Sarah Agnes Hogan. Ellen 
Collins. Mary Sisson, ^Nlalachi Dwyer, Viola E. Steers, Ann 
Hogan. Vestrs' windows, bv William and Catharine Davis. 



ST. LUCY'S CHURCH 

IN August, 1872, a committee of members of the Syracuse 
parishes of St. John the Evangelist and St. Mary visited the 
Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, and obtained 
his consent to form a new parish west of Onondaga Creek. They 
were authorized to proceed with work of organization until a 
pastor should be sent to them to assume charge of the parish. 
They bought land and began negotiations with Contractor Pat- 
rick Commins to build a church. The committee consisted of 
Messrs. John J. Lynch, Francis Connelly, Lawrence Ryan, Hugh 
A. Duffy, Thomas F. DeLany, Charles McFall, Nicholas Joy, 
Patrick Slattery, William Michaels, Thomas Kendrick, John Hel- 
mick and Francis ^lurphy. 

For thirty-four years — from the very beginning up to the year 
1906 — this parish had for its pastor the late Rev. John J. Ken- 
nedy. Born in Ireland, September 4th, 1844, he came, while 
still a child, with his parents to Syracuse. He was educated in 
the public schools and served the altar at St. Mary's church. 
He completed his studies at Niagara College and then entered 
Troy Theological Seminary where he was ordained May 22, 1869. 

Father Kennedy was appointed assistant pastor at St. Mary's, 
Albany, as his first mission. In September, 1872, he was sent 
as pastor to the new parish in Syracuse, which he caused to be 
incorporated under the name St. Lucy, after the virgin martyr 
of the Sicilian Syracuse. 

The first trustees were the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Rt. Rev. 
Francis McNierney, Rev. John J. Kennedy, Francis Connelly 
and John Helmick. The present trustees are the Rt. Rev. P. A, 
Ludden, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. P. F. McEvoy, S. T. D., William P. 
Gannon and John 'Brien. John C. Keeffe and Patrick H. Hal- 
loran served in similar capacity for some years. 

Father Kennedy was appointed vicar-general of the diocese 
of Syracuse July 25, 1891, and was created papal prelate July, 
1895, by Pope Leo XIII. 

The first Mass of St. Lucy's parish was celebrated by Father 



86 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Kennedy Sunday, September 17, 1872, in the first store of the 
Cook Block, Gifford street, on the west bank of Onondaga Creek. 
As the congregation increased an upper floor of the same build- 
ing was used as a chapel until the completion of the basement 
of the church. 

Among those present at the first Mass were the members of 
the committee which organized the parish, their wives and chil- 
dren: Mrs. Kennedy, mother of the young pastor, and Miss 
Winifred and Miss Ellen Kennedy, his sisters; Mrs. Timothy 
Dwyer, Mr. and ]\Irs. Thomas McDonald, Miss Elizabeth Ken- 
drick, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bannan, Mr. and Mrs. Edward 
Bannan, Miss Maria Bannan, Mrs. Elizabeth Dowling, John 
Ryan, Miss Alice Ryan, Miss ]\Iary Ryan, Misses Margaret, Mary 
and Julia Callahan, ]\Irs. Schemmel, ]\Iiss Nellie Schemmel, 
George Schemmel, Mr. and Mrs. John Reidy, Mr, and Mrs. James 
Ryan, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Scott, :Mr. and Llrs. Patrick H. 
Halloran, Bridget Halloran, Mrs. Ellen Hanna, John Welsh, 
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Kendrick, Dennis Kendrick, M. G. Ken- 
drick, Mrs. James G. Brown, Mrs. P. L. Lyons, John M. Ryan, 
Mary Ryan, Mrs. Hueber, Patrick Callahan, Mr. and Mrs. Pat- 
rick Flanagan, Edward B. Flanagan, Mary A. Flanagan, Mrs. 
Alice Kelly, Mrs. Catherine Kelly, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. 
Egan, Francis Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. John Ryan, Patrick and 
Rose McCarthy. ]\Ir. and ]\Irs. Patrick Corbett, Mr. and Mrs. 
James Lyons, William Mahar, Ann Doyle, James Doyle, William 
J. Egan, Annie Egan, Mary Kippley, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel 
Coughlin, Dennis Coughlin, Mrs. Anna Hannigan,Patrick 'Don- 
nell, Mrs. Mary Sullivan, Bridget Sullivan, Mr. and Mrs. John 
Reidy, ]Maurice Reidy, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Welch, Mr. and 
Mrs. Thomas Dixon, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan O'Donnell, Mr. and 
Mrs. Martin Haley, Mrs. Mary Miller, Mrs. Margaret Miller, 
Mrs. Mary Ryan, Mrs. Bridget Miller, Mrs. Ellen Carey, ]\Irs. 
Bridget Welch, Mrs. Honorah Carey, Patrick Meaney, Michael 
Meaney, Mrs. Margaret Meaney, Mrs. Honora Carey, ]\Irs. A. 
Smith, John Dunlay, John Fitzgerald, Catherine Fitzgerald, 
Patrick Ryan, Daniel Farricy, Peter Farricy, Helen Farricy, 
William Farricy, Ellen Farricy, Richard Hennessey, Edward 
Hennessey, Dennis Hennessey, Bryan J. O'Donnell and family, 
and John O'Brien. 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 87 

In June, 1873, the cornerstone of the church was laid and the 
first Mass was celebrated in the basement November 1, 1873. 
Two years later the church was completed and the first Mass 
said in the church proper on Christmas day, 1875. The parish, 
which then consisted of about 250 families, now numbers 600 
families. They are mostly of Irish birth and Irish extraction. 

After the church was built the pastoral residence was con- 
structed to the west and in 1892 the St. Lucy's Academy was 
begun on the east side of the church. 

The academy is three stories high and furnished in conformity 
with modern school requirements. It contains a large assembly 
hall on the third floor, and is in charge of the Sisters of St. 
Joseph. It has all the grades of the grammar and high school 
courses under the direction of the Regents of the State of New 
York. The school opened with a daily attendance of 150 pupils 
which now numbers 850. 

The property east of the church was acquired for a convent 
so that now St. Lucy's church property is one of the finest of 
the diocese. 

The original plan of the church gave a basement for purposes 
of general assembly, Sunday school sessions and Sodality meet- 
ing, necessitating a long flight of steps to reach the church 
proper. The school with its large assembly hall took the place 
of the basement ; so in 1901 the floor of the church was lowered. 
The windows were replaced by new and larger windows, the 
church was enlarged by a vestibule and vestries, modem heating, 
lighting and ventilation plants were installed and the whole 
church redecorated. 

During 1904 the church property was freed of debt and on 
December 18 of that year the church and the three altars just 
placed were consecrated. The edifice and the main altar, the 
gift of Mrs. Mary D. Grace, the altars of the Blessed Virgin and 
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, gifts respectively of Mrs. Patrick 
R. Quinlan and Mrs. Edward K. Butler, were consecrated by 
the Rt. Rev. Henry Gabriels, Bishop of Ogdensburg. The 
Bishop of Albany, who was to have assisted in the solemn service, 
was detained at his home by illness. A solemn Pontifical Mass 
was celebrated at 10 :30 o 'clock by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden. 
The Rt. Rev. Mgr. John J. Kennedy, V. G., was arch-priest. The 



88 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

deacons of honor were the Rev. ^Michael Clune and the Rev. 
James O'Reilly of Clinton. The deacons of the Mass were the 
Rev. Francis J. Quinn and the Rev. Daniel Doody of Utica. 
The masters of ceremonies were the Rev. Joseph A. Hopkins of 
Oswego and the Rev. James P. ]\IeGraw, acting chancellor. The 
Rt. Rev. Bernard J. ;^^cQuaid, Bishop of Rochester, preached the 
sermon of the day. He paid a high tribute to Father Kennedy. 
He congratulated the members of the congregation because of 
their great success and spoke at length on the necessity of 
parochial schools. 

Father Kennedy died April 13, 1906. For some years his 
health had been failing, but, except for a short interval spent in 
travel abroad, he worked unceasingly at his parish duties. For 
five weeks he was confined to his bed and on Good Friday he 
died. His funeral was the occasion of a great outpouring of 
people of all creeds and sections who came to do honor to the 
memory of the strong priest and patient toiler who labored 
unselfishly and with signal success for the spiritual and material 
wellbeing of his parishioners. In the vestibule of the church a 
bronze tablet has been erected to his memory by a grateful people. 

May 1, 1906, the Rev. Patrick F. McEvoy, S. T. D., was ap- 
pointed second pastor of St. Lucy's. The same month he was 
named Vicar-General of the diocese, with the rank of domestic 
prelate. Mgr. McEvoy was born in Herkimer county. He 
made his classical studies at St. Charles' College, EUicott City, 
Md., his philosophy at Niagara University and was ordained 
priest at St. Joseph's Seminar3% Troy, where his theological 
course was taken. After ordination Father IMcEvoy served 
eighteen months as assistant priest at St. Patrick's, Syracuse, 
when he was appointed Chancellor of the diocese and secretary 
to the Bishop, positions which he occupied continuously for nine- 
teen years. In the year 1905, after special study at the Ap- 
pollinare College, Rome, Italy, he received the degree of doctor 
of sacred theology. Under his gentle rule St. Lucy's parish may 
be expected to advance to yet loftier heights. 

The assistant priests of the parish have been : Rev. Michael 
Clune, Rev. James V. Donnelly, Rev. Philip Herrick, Rev. Wil- 
liam W. Pouneh, Rev. Patrick Donohoe, Rev. ^Michael Joyce, 
Rev. Albert J. Hayes, Rev. John Farrar, Rev. John V. Byrne, 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 89 

Rev. Andrew J. Comerford, and the present assistants, Rev. 
Charles E. Tracy, Rev. Daniel M. Hennessy and Rev. James 
F. Farrell. Father Farrell is the first child of the parish to 
attain the dignity of the priesthood. He is the son of Mr. 
and Mrs. Patrick Farrell. His studies were made at Niagara 
University and La Grande Seminaire, Montreal. He was or- 
dained priest December 22, 1905, at St. James' Cathedral, Mon- 
treal, and sang his first solemn high Mass in St. Lucy's on 
Christmas day, that year. 

St. Joseph's Chapel, House of Providence, and the Onondaga 
County Poor House are attended by the priests of this parish. 



ST. JOSEPH'S (GERMAN) CHURCH 

ST. JOSEPH'S, the German church of the South Side, was 
built in 1882, the parish having been formed in the fall 
of the previous year. The congregation consisted of 
German-speaking people who had until that time attended the 
Church of the Assumption. These people lived in various parts 
and sections of the south side of the rapidly growing and pros- 
perous city; some to the west, others to the east, and a few in 
the direction of the Valley, towards the outskirts of the city. 
The distance from their homes to the customary place of worship 
at the time was extraordinary, ranging anyway from two to 
three miles and over, a condition which made observance of 
religious duties very onerous and trying to them, especially dur- 
ing inclement weather. 

For this reason these good people desired a church and school 
in their own neighborhood. Hence they set about in the usual 
way of petition to the Bishop. Resolutions were drafted stating 
their case and praying relief. Next a committee was appointed 
consisting of the Messrs. Peter Brang. Joseph Fiesinger and 
others, whose mission it was to wait on the Rt. Rev. Francis Mc- 
Nierney of the Diocese of Albany. The delegates immediately 
proceeded on their errand to apprise the Ordinary of the plan in- 
augurated, with a view to obtaining his sanction. Upon being 
satisfied as to the feasibility^ of the undertaking and, after 
courteous advisement with the Franciscan Fathers, from whose 
domain the intended separation was to be made, the authorities 
eventually granted the petitioners permission to organize. At 
once the formation of a new congregation as an independent 
parish was begun, the limits of the same to comprise practically 
all that territory in the city south of the Erie Canal. The num- 
ber of church-goers in that entire district consisted of not more 
than 75 to 100 families. 

Rev. Joseph Pickl was placed in charge, being the first priest 
to officiate as pastor. He was appointed at the urgent request of 
an expectant, ambitious and confiding people. Of his antecedents 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 91 

nothing definite is known save that he was an ex-religious, recom- 
mended by one Father Wayrich, C. SS. R., of New York, to 
Bishop McNierney, who received and appointed him to Manliiis 
(now Minoa), about 1879, where he remained until transferred 
to Syracuse. His relations with the congregation just established 
continued till January, 1891, when he abruptly, and of his own 
accord, severed connections with the parish and diocese and 
sought a field of labor in the far West. 

The first Mass of the infant parish was celebrated in the upper 
stoiy of what is now a blacksmith shop, at No. 505 Oswego street, 
in the latter part of October, 1881. The altar boys on the 
occasion were Frank Brang, Joseph Fauth, Bernard Wente, 
Anthony Winter, Frank Winter, Frederick Gersbacher, Henry 
Gersbacher, J. Joseph Nash, Bernard Gottstein, Albert Pfeiffer, 
Gustavus Schaefer and Matthew Graff. The following gentle- 
men and their families were in attendance: William Honoldt, 
Peter Brang, B. Wente, Timothy Blum, Bernard Kohlbrenner, 
Peter Gersbacher, Andrew Gersbacher, Charles Fauth, Peter 
Christofel, Peter Mentges, Joseph Nash, Thomas Schoenbaechler, 
Theodore Bernhardt, William Winter, Urs. Winter, Anthony 
Miller, M. Graff, Anthony Weaver, Joseph Fiesinger, Nicholas 
Bicks, M. Ramion, Judson Scheel, Charles Reith, Mrs. Schaefer, 
F. Gottstein, Jacques Thelen, Con. Justen, George Wolz, John 
Gary, J. Mutter, N. Himpler, and others, whose names are not 
remembered now. 

In due course a meeting of the prominent men and principal 
promoters of the cause was held at the residence of N. Bicks, 
where Messrs. Peter Brang, A. Weaver and M. Graff were chosen 
as trustees. At the same time another board was selected to look 
after a suitable location for the erection of a church. Messrs. T. 
Blum, P. Brang, W. Honoldt, T. Barnhardt and Joseph Fie- 
singer consented to act in the matter. They agreed and decided 
on the present site, about 90 by 133 feet, on the north side of 
Seymour street, midway between Geddes and Oswego streets. 
The purchase price was $2,700. Later on Messrs. J. Fiesinger, 
T. Bernhardt, A. Weaver, T. Blum and G. Gensler were named 
a building committee. They arranged for an edifice of nonde- 
script architecture, whose outer walls are constructed of Phila- 
delphia pressed brick and are surmounted by a gable-formed 



92 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

slate roof; a diminutive tower and steeple at the northwest ex- 
tremity surraoimts the whole. The contract for this was let at an 
estimate of $30,000, which increased to $35,000 before the work 
was finished. 

The cornerstone was laid May 6th, 1882, by the Rev. Dr. 
O'Hara of St. Mary's church, Syracuse; the festivities were 
attended by the several societies of Assumption church. The 
edifice was completed in the summer of 1883, blessed by Bishop 
McNierney November 19, 1882, and dedicated to St. Joseph, a 
title suggested by the given-name of its pastor. 

On July 17, 1883, several members of the church bonded their 
own homes as security for the loan negotiated and as a pledge 
for the payment of the funds received at the Onondaga County 
Savings Bank, to meet the amount of contract and other liabili- 
ties. The signers to the document were : W. Honold, T. Bern- 
hard, A. Weber, B. Wente, A. Mantel, M. Homelson, J. Metzger, 
C. Fauth, J. Georgi, N. Enders, P. Gersbacher, F. Brand, L. 
Loehr, G. Wolz, J. Mutter, S. Bruin, N. Himpler, J. Getheuter. 

Before the organization of the Polish congregation, a large 
contingent of that nationality rented pews and attended services 
at St. Joseph's, Father Pickl having acquired a smattering of 
their tongue, sufficient to accommodate them in the confessional 
and at the sickbed. After the departure of these people to their 
own church St. Joseph's congregation decreased in numbers al- 
most a third. This affected the revenues very sensibly for a 
number of years. 

In January, 1891, Rev. Aloys Heller was appointed second 
pastor of the congregation. He was a Bohemian by birth, hailed 
from Bayonne, diocese of Newark, N. J., came introduced by its 
Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Winand ]\Iichael Wigger, was accepted by 
Bishop Ludden and served about two years, until January, 1893, 
when he retired to assume a charge in Minnesota. 

After this the parish was without a permanent priest for some 
time, various clergymen from city churches alternating in the 
administration of spiritualities to the people, a brief experiment 
with an alien priest having proved a failure. 

On Easter Sunday, 1893, Rev. Anthony Gehring of the Church 
of the Assumption assumed charge of the congregation as locum 
tenens. He was of a genial disposition and kindly nature, a 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 93 

faithful worker and greatly appreciated and loved by the com- 
munity. 

He was succeeded on August 6, 1893, by the present rector, 
Rev. Stephen Anthony Priesser, who is of German descent. 
Father Priesser was born at Albany on June 10, 1847, made his 
classical curriculum at St. Vincent's College, Pennsylvania, pur- 
sued his theological studies at the University of Munster, Ger- 
many, and was ordained there on June 7, 1873. He labored as 
assistant to Rev. Theo. Noethen at Holy Cross church, Albany, 
till July 1, 1874, when, at the instance of his Bishop, he founded 
the congregation Our Lady Help of Christians, in his native city. 
After building a church and school and leaving things in a 
flourishing condition, he proceeded to St. Peter 's church, Oswego, 
in December, 1883, remaining there as irremovable rector until 
August, 1893, when he commenced his labors at St. Joseph's. 

On his arrival he found a funded debt of $21,000, besides 
other obligations to the extent of several thousand dollars more. 
Many important and expensive improvements running up into 
the thousands have been made and paid for. On the whole, the 
parish is now in a good condition spiritually and materially. 

The number of families belonging to the church is about 250 
now, as against 75 to 100 at the start. The property includes 
church, school and rectory. The school was opened in the base- 
ment of the church immediately after its completion in 1883. 
Later on a special building was erected at a cost of $4,300. To 
this was annexed a dwelling for the teachers. Sisters of Charity, 
from Mallinckrodt Convent, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Their commu- 
nity is noted for its excellent teachers, a reputation sustained 
here by the undisputed progress of their pupils. The children 
are divided into four classrooms, and average about 184, while in 
the beginning there were scarcely 100. The religious instruction 
takes up a full hour of every school day in the year and half 
that time on Sunday. The Tuesday, Friday and Sunday lessons 
as well as the preparations for first Holy Communion and the 
Sacrament of Confirmation are attended to personally and ex- 
clusively by the priests : the rest is done at regular schedule time 
by the Sisters in their separate class rooms. 

In July, 1903, the Rev. Michael Steines, S. T. D., was assigned 
as assistant. He is a native of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, 



94 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Europe, where he was born on February 17, 1877 ; he entered on 
his preparatory course at his home institution and completed his 
education at the American College in Rome, Italy, where he was 
ordained May 24, 1902, and received his degree of doctor of 
sacred theology May 7, 1903. He is conversant with the German, 
English, French and Italian languages, is a capable and indus- 
trious as well as a conscientious and zealous priest, and a favorite 
with all the people. 

The silver jubilee of the parish was celebrated with great pomp 
and solemnity on Sunday, Jime 23, 1907. His Holiness, Pope 
Pius X., graciously sent his blessing to the reverend pastor and 
his congregation and the priest-sons of the parish returned to 
participate in the ceremonies. Among these are the Revs. Alfred 
Roth, Robert Mockel, Charles Fecht. Brother Nicholas of St. 
Vincent's Abbey is also a son of a child of the parish, Frederick 
Kopp. In preparation for the event improvements were made 
in the church property at a cost of $2,500. The jubilee collection 
yielded $3,500, and this sum was applied on the debt, which now 
amounts to $7,000. 



HOLY TRINITY CHURCH 

IN June, 1890, a number of German Catholic families living in 
the neighborhood of Round Top and members of the Church 
of the Assumption parish, organized themselves into a so- 
ciety, purchased a part of Kaiser's Grove, and began thereon the 
erection of a small church. Thus was inaugurated Holy Trinity, 
third German parish of Syracuse. These families, some of whom 
lived three and four miles from the parent church, first 
petitioned their pastor, the Rev. Bonaventure Zoller, O. M. C, 
for a neighborhood school that their little ones might have proper 
religious training without the disadvantage of having to travel 
considerable distances each day to procure it. The first effort in 
this direction was made by Mrs. Frederick Schneider, who went 
to Father Zoller with her request and was by him referred to the 
Bishop. Bishop Ludden, interested by her story, advised that if 
necessity existed for a school, a church also was needed. She 
left under instruction to prepare a list of the Catholic families 
living in the district comprising the bounds of the present parish. 
Pleased with the gracious consideration of the Bishop and en- 
thused at the prospect of a church of their own, these pious 
people gathered to perfect an organization. 

The first men to identify themselves with the movement were 
Frederick Schneider, husband of its initiator, Gabriel Buschle 
and Martin Foederer. An informal meeting was called for June 
22, 1890. This was held in Saile's Hall, Butternut street, Mr. 
Schneider presiding. According to the wish of the Bishop, a 
census had been taken and this showed two hundred and eighty- 
six families living within the proposed limits and of these forty- 
four were of Irish or French descent. A committee consisting of 
John Baier, Gabriel Buschle, William Kopf, Albert Beige and 
Anton Schmitt carried this list to Bishop Ludden and begged 
his consent for the erection of a church and school. A favorable 
reply was returned to a meeting held July 6 and thereupon a 
resolution was passed authorizing the purchase from Dennis 
McCarthy of three lots on Park street, a plat measuring 120 x 130 



96 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

feet. A building committee was appointed with the following: 
officers: Frederick Schneider, president: Jacob Amend, vice- 
president ; Albert Beige, recording secretary : John Baier, finan- 
cial secretary ; John Vaeth, treasurer. On the Board of Trustees 
were Frank Burgmeier, Gabriel Buschle and Martin Foederer. 
All these officers were elected for six months but on October 26th 
other officers were elected as follows: John Baier, president: 
Dominic Kraus, vice-president; Albert Beige, recording secre- 
tary ; Jacob Mathes, financial secretary, and Frederick Schneider, 
treasurer. The latter resigning April 14, 1891, William Kopf 
was appointed in his place. The new trustees were Martin 
Foederer, Greorge Straub and Karl Beige. Meanwhile the people 
busied themselves in gathering money by collections and enter- 
tainments. It was decided January 11, 1891, to erect a two- 
story frame building, 42 x 20 feet, to serve as church and school. 
J. Hemmer & Sons were given the contract which called for an 
expenditure of $5,738. 

On April 22, 1891, thirteen members were elected as trus- 
tees, the church having been incorporated under the name of 
Holy Trinity Church Society, viz: Peter Noetcher, John Bier- 
mann, Gabriel Buschle, Joseph Glath, Peter Becker, Frederick 
Schneider, William Kopf, John Spiegel, Dominic Kraus, Joseph 
Renk, Frank Schmuckmeier, Joseph Brilbeck and Michael Ranch. 
Joseph Glath was elected president. 

The church was finished in October but before its dedication a 
fair, the first one given for the benefit of the new congregation, 
was held in it. This netted the sum of $1,412.97. About this 
time a priest. Father Bayer, who had come from the West, was 
sent by the Bishop to take charge of the new parish but he 
remained only a month. The church was not ready for ser\'ices 
and his only official act was the baptism of Lauretta Zimmer, 
the first child of the parish. 

Meanwhile the church was receiving its furnishings. Pews 
were bought for $416.00. St. John the Evangelist church do- 
nated its large and beautifully carved wooden main altar of 
Gothic style. Another donation were the two large iron statues 
of the Sorrowful Mother and of St. John the Evangelist. They 
once stood as ornaments in a private park on James street and 
were rescued from the scrap heap at Dunning 's foundry. An- 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 97 

other relic is the little church-bell. For years it had called the 
children in the neighborhood of Magnolia street to the public 
school. When finer quarters had been prepared for the children, 
the old school building was sold and with it the bell. It remained 
in its little tower until the people of Holy Trinity parish secured 
it from the owner as a donation to their church. 

In November, 1891, the Bishop put the new parish in charge 
of the Rev. John Reuland. The first Mass was said privately on 
November 12th. On the following Sunday, November 15, 1891, 
the building was blessed by the Very Rev. John J. Kennedy, 
Vicar General, the Bishop being away at the time. Father 
Aloysius Heller of St. Joseph's (German) church came with his 
altar boys to assist. He brought with him the ostensorium of 
St. Joseph's church and this was used in giving the first sacra- 
mental blessing. 

Father Reuland is still pastor of the church. He was born in 
1852 in Consdorf , Grand Duchy of Luxemburg. After finishing 
his classical and theological studies in his native country he was 
ordained to the priesthood in 1877. His first appointment was 
as assistant at a mission where he served for four years and 
during four other years he held a teaching position in a State 
Agricultural College. After these eight years of service he 
accepted appointment as missionary to the German immigrants 
at Castle Garden, New York, P. P. Cahensly, as secretary of St. 
Raphael's Society for the Protection of German Emigrants, hav- 
ing applied to the Bishop of Luxemburg for a priest to take 
charge. This was in 1885. For six years he worked in this 
mission and not without success as is proved by the Leo House 
for Catholic German immigrants, 6 State street, New York, 
which was established through his efforts. These six years had 
been years of hardship and struggle and the post was gladly 
relinquished when he learned through Rev. Peter Schmitt of 
Rome of the new parish in Syracuse and of the Bishop 's willing- 
ness to appoint him its pastor. With Father Reuland 's advent 
a parochial residence was purchased for $1,900.00. It is the 
Jasper street house still owned by the congregation, and located 
to the rear of the church lot. On November 8th a meeting was 
held at the Bishop's house and the transfer of the church prop- 
erty, which was held by a private church corporation, was made 



98 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

to the Board of Trustees of the diocesan regulation, consisting of 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop, the Vicar-General, Father Kennedy, Rev. 
John Reuland, pastor, and Joseph Glath and Peter Becker of the 
old board. 

From June, 1890, to November 15, 1891, the sum of $2,172.86 
was collected. An entertainment brought $282.87. a picnic 
$218.84, and the fair $1,412.97. In all $4,087.44 had been raised 
before the appointment of a pastor. According to a financial 
report, the first one in print, dated January 1. 1892, the sum of 
$10,578.48 had been taken in, this sum including a mortgage of 
$5,585. The expenses had run up to $9,484.15, leaving a balance 
in the treasury of $1,094.33, with $9,580.79 of debt. 

During the summer months of 1892 a two-story parish house 
was erected at the rear end of the church building, and attached 
to it, at a cost of $2,024.95, the Jasper street house being turned 
over to the school Sisters. 

In September, 1892, the school opened with 180 children, 
divided into three classes. The first teachers were Franciscan 
Sisters from Milwaukee. Two years later these were replaced by 
the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse. 

In 1895 the house on the west side of the church Avas bought 
for $2,400 and this serves as a more convenient convent for the 
Sisters. In 1899 a parish hall was built at a cost of $3,383. and 
in 1902 a third story Avas added to the pastor's residence, thus 
bringing the house under the same roof AAnth the church. 

Despite the cost of all these new acquisitions and improve- 
ments the congregation kept on paying off the mortgage. A fair 
held in February, 1903, brought the necessary means to acquit 
the remaining debt on the church property, a mortgage of $1,500. 
The church holdings are valued at $30,000. What next ? A new 
church, of course, say pastor and people. A building fund Avas 
started in 1904 and noAv amounts to $11,000. Seven lots at the 
corner of Park and Second North streets were purchased in 
1905 from the Father O'Hara estate for $4,100, and it is planned 
to erect an edifice Avhich when completed and furnished will cost 
$75,000, and for all time be a monument to the zeal and piety 
of the people of Round Top, who, poor in the world's goods, are 
rich in faith and good works. May God bless the undertaking. 

Of the 286 families on the Bishop's list only 160 became real 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 99 

members of the new congregation and of these not all were sup- 
porting members. Several Irish families became active members 
but they were lost to Holy Trinity when St. Vincent de Paul's 
parish was established. Of the other families on the list about 
forty or fifty remained with the Assumption church, although 
they live within the limits. The remaining fifty or sixty families 
are not accredited to any parish. 

To-day after sixteen years of existence the number of families 
has increased to about two hundred and seventy. The school, 
which in 1892 opened with 180 children, has now an average 
attendance of 210 children. 

The new parish limits are north and east, the open fields; 
west. Butternut and Third North streets ; south, Lodi street and 
the Erie canal. 



ST. VINCENT DE PAULAS CHURCH 

IN the spring of 1891 the attention of the Very Rev. J. S. M. 
Lynch, rector of St. John's Cathedral, was called to the 
need of a mission Sunday school in the eastern part of that 
parish. With characteristic promptness and energy he at once 
caused this to be organized. The children were gathered to- 
gether at the home of one of the parishioners and instructed in 
the truths of their holy religion. That this little Sunday school, 
thus organized, might be better fostered and improved, it was 
placed in the charge of the Cathedral Conference of St. Vincent 
de Paul 's society. Soon the number of children attending these 
catechetical instructions became so great that it became necessary 
to provide for them a larger and more suitable place for Sunday 
school. 

For this purpose a committee was appointed and the little cot- 
tage at the corner of Greenway avenue and Vann street was 
selected and purchased at a cost of one thousand dollars. At 
this place, for a year or more, about thirty or forty children met 
together and received instructions from the assistant priests of 
St. John's Cathedral. Among these latter were the Rev. William 
F. Dougherty, first assistant of St. John's and the first pastor of 
St. Vincent de Paul's parish; Rev. Charles V. McGuire, the 
present pastor of St. Stephen 's church, Marathon ; Rev. William 
H. Slavin, now pastor of St. Paul's church, Whitesboro; Rev. T. 
'Sullivan, afterwards in Cleveland, Ohio ; Rev. Bernard Quinn, 
now the pastor of St. Peter's church, Deerfield, and Rev. Joseph 
A. Hopkins, pastor of St. ]\Iar\^'s church, Oswego. 

In the following year, 1892, this little Sunday-School Hall was 
converted into a mission-chapel and the Holy Sacrifice of the 
Mass was there offered up four times a year, on the Ember days, 
by the priests of the Cathedral. The chapel was enlarged, re- 
furnished and decorated and was thus converted into a little 
church with a seating capacity of two hundred and twenty-five. 

In the same year, as soon as these improvements were com- 
pleted, this mission was incorporated as St. Vincent de Paul's 



CITY OF SYRACUSE. 101 

church and the first trustees of the new parish were the Rt. Rev. 
Patrick A. Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse ; the Very Rev. John J. 
Kennedy, V. G. ; the Rev. Michael Clune, rector of St. John 's 
Cathedral; Timothy Gaherty, treasurer, and Michael McEniry, 
secretary. One Mass was said each Sunday. 

It was not long before the people of this new parish became 
convinced that they could support a resident priest, and going to 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop, they petitioned him for a permanent pastor. 

The Bishop listened to their request. The idea impressed him 
favorably and he appointed the Rev. William F. Dougherty as 
the first pastor of St. Vincent de Paul 's Church. Father Dough- 
erty took charge on June 1, 1894, 

The congregation now grew so rapidly in size that before the 
following summer the little mission-chapel proved entirely too 
small to accommodate the people attending. They filled the 
church to its utmost capacity. Many were unable to secure ad- 
mittance, and these, determined to hear Mass in spite of incon- 
venience, gathered about, knelt upon the ground and heard the 
services through the open door and windows. 

One thing was evident to all. A new and larger church build- 
ing was of immediate necessity. Previous to Father Dougherty's 
appointment, a site for this new church had been purchased. It 
was situated on Henderson street, extending from Vine street to 
Sherwood avenue, and cost three thousand dollars. Here, in 1895, 
excavation for a new church began. Father Dougherty first 
broke ground by picking a cross in the earth on the spot where 
the sanctuary is now located. 

On Sunday morning, November 10, 1895, the corner-stone of 
this new church was laid by Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, Bishop of 
Syracuse. The pomp and grandeur of the ceremony was impos- 
ing. Besides the Rt. Rev. Bishop, many clergy were present. 
More than a thousand members of Catholic societies attended in 
a body, and several thousand people of every age and class, race 
and religious profession, thronged about to witness the ceremony. 

So rapidly did the work of erection proceed that in two years 
the new church was entirely finished, and on Sunday, November 
7, 1897, it was solemnly dedicated by Bishop Ludden. A Pon- 
tifical High Mass was then celebrated by the Bishop, assisted by 
many of the clergy. The church choir consisted of thirty voices, 



102 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

under the direction of Prof. Renaud and the Sanctuary Choir of 
sixty-two boys. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. 
John McLoghlin of Cortland, and the evening address by Rt. 
Rev. Mgr. Lynch of Utica, who spoke in the highest terms of 
praise not only of the magnificent new church so beautifully 
built and adorned, but also of those through whose zeal, energy 
and self-sacrifice it had been erected. 

The five years following the dedication were years of continued 
toil. Entertainments, picnics and fairs were held to procure 
funds for defraying church expenses and for paying off church 
mortgages. The temporal and eternal welfare of the people was 
promoted, the children were instructed, sodalities were formed, 
societies, religious and fraternal, were organized, and the social, 
financial, and spiritual growth of the parish was fostered and 
increased. 

In the spring of 1902, the erection of a rectory was begun. So 
energetically was the work carried on that it was built, furnished 
and paid for almost in a single year. 

Since then the advancement of St. Vincent de Paul's Parish 
has been continuous and rapid. To-day it is well organized, am- 
bitious, energetic, and growing with increasing rapidity.. 

At various times during his pastorate, Father Dougherty was 
assisted for brief periods by the Rev. W. J. Hourigan, Rev. Rich- 
ard Purcell and Rev. W. J. McCormack. The present and first 
permanent assistant is the Rev. P. J. Sloan, who was appointed 
in 1903. 

The church property has a value of $100,000 and against this 
is a debt of $25,000. Henry J. Bailey and William Coogan are 
the present lay trustees. 



CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART 

(POLISH) 

THE history of this parish practically begins with the first 
Mass celebrated for a purely Polish congregation, which 
was offered in Kelly's Hall, West Fayette street, in May, 
1892, by the Eiev. Anthony F. Kolaszewski. The altar boys who 
served it were Joseph Mokwa and Felix and Joseph Roda. 
Father Kolaszewski came from Cleveland, Ohio, and ministered 
to the congregation from May, 1892, to April, 1898. The Rev. 
Theophilus Szadzinski served the people during Easter-tide be- 
fore the building of the church. 

The first general meeting of the Polish Catholics of the city of 
Syracuse was held in the Assumption School Hall on June 12, 
1892. It was resolved that the Polish Catholics should build their 
own church and school and have their own pastors. The follow- 
ing were elected incorporators: The Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, 
Bishop of Syracuse; Very Rev. J. J. Kennedy, Vicar-General; 
Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski, Adolph Kirchner, Peter Gdarniec. John 
Lewandowski and Peter Gdarniec were named lay trustees. 

It was unanimously agreed that the church should be dedi- 
cated to the Sacred Heart. 

On July 24, 1892, ground was broken for the new church, and 
the cornerstone laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, in the pres- 
ence of a gathering of several thousand people. The contract was 
let to John Hemmer's Sons on June 30, 1892, for $7,000, and on 
August 20 of the same year the first Mass was said in the new 
building. The congregation then consisted of 200 families. It 
now comprises 475 families. The priests who have served the 
parish are as follows: The Rev. A. F. Kolaszewski, from May, 
1892, to April, 1894; the Rev. Anthony Plucinski, from April, 
1894, to June, 1894; the Rev. Hieronymus Klimecki, from July 
15, 1894, to June 18, 1896, and the Rev. Francis Rusin from June 
18, 1896, to the present time. 

Father Rusin is a native of Poland and was ordained May 30, 
1896, by Archbishop Corrigan, after study in St. Vitalis' Semi- 
nary, Warsaw, Poland, and St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y. 



104 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Upon assuming the pastorate he found a debt of $11,000, which 
has since been paid in full. He has also built a ncAv parochial 
residence, besides providing new altars, vestments, statuary and 
an organ. Three thousand dollars has been paid for the lot upon 
which the rectory stands and $4,000 for that upon which the new 
church is being built. 

The new Church of the Sacred Heart will, when completed, be 
one of the finest in the diocese. The cornerstone was laid October 
17, 1908, by Bishop Ludden and the completed structure will cost 
upward of $200,000. It may be noted that as in former days in 
the case of Irish emigrants, so now in the case of the Polish peo- 
ple, those who could not contribute money for the building, have 
by actual labor given most substantial aid. Foundations have 
been dug and walls built largely by the toil of willing hands of 
members of the congregation. The new church is being built of 
Onondaga gray limestone, the durable qualities of which are so 
well known. The dimensions and plans are on a grand scale, and 
the architectural design beautiful. 

The church and school are at present in the same building, the 
church being on the upper floor and the school on the lower. The 
school started with seventy pupils, but now there are two hun- 
dred and ten on the register. They are being taught by the 
Felician Sisters of St. Frances, who come from Buffalo. 

In connection with the church are a Rosary Society, Young 
Ladies' Society, Society of St. Adelbert, Society of St. Joseph, 
and the Knights of St. Casimir. All the members of these or- 
ganizations are Polish. 



ST. PETER'S (ITALIAN) CHURCH 

THE Italians of Syracuse had no regular place of worship 
until the year 1893, when the Rev. Michael Clune placed 
at their disposal the basement of the Church of St. John 
the Evangelist. The Rev. Father Mannella was placed in charge 
of the congregation, which at that time numbered about 3,000 
souls. Two years later the Rev. Francis J. Beccherini, of the 
Congregation of St. Charles Borromeo, who had succeeded to the 
pastorate, took steps toward the purchase of a permanent place 
of worship. His parishioners actively co-operated in his efforts, 
and in the summer of 1895 the German Lutheran Church at the 
corner of North State street and Burnet avenue was purchased 
for the sum of $12,000. It was dedicated to St. Peter on October 
6th of the same year. 

The Rev. Eugene Ostino, also a member of the Congregation of 
St. Charles Borromeo, was appointed pastor in July, 1900, and 
labored with great zeal among the Italian population of Syracuse 
and the neighboring villages. During his term of service the con- 
gregation increased in numbers and material prosperity. Church 
societies of all kinds were formed, and under Father Ostino 's 
direction a number of successful fairs and entertainments were 
held, the proceeds of which helped greatly towards reducing the 
debt on the church and rectory. The latter, a two-story brick 
building, was erected in 1904. Father Ostino was transferred to 
the Diocese of Trenton in December, 1904, and the Rev. Francis 
Morrassi, C. S. C. B., succeeded him. In January, 1908, Father 
J. B. Cuneo, C. S. C. B., became pastor. He has interested him- 
self especially in work among the young and has established kin- 
dergarten and sewing classes which meet in the tower of the 
church. Catechism classes are taught by the Sisters of Charity 
from St. Vincent's Asylum. 

Among the benefactors of the parish may be mentioned the 
following: Thomas Marinelli gave the organ, the statue of the 
Immaculate Conception, and a missal ; the Holy Rosary Sodality, 
the altar of Our Lady of the Rosary of Pompeii. The altar and 



106 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

statue of St. Anthony were given by St. Anthony's Sodality. 
The other statues were presented to the church by various groups 
of devout persons who wished in this way to honor the patron 
saints of their native towns or villages. The donors of the 
stained glass windows were G. B. De Barbieri, Giovanni Rivara, 
Sabato Andreoli, A. Angeloro and C. Romano, Francesco Pelle- 
grini, Thomas Marinelli, Sodality of the Most Holy Rosary, 
Paolo Frateschi, Charles Smith, Rev. Father Ostino in memory 
of Mgr. Scalabrini, Sodality of St. Anthony. 

The societies connected with the church are St. Peter's Club, 
for young men; Holy Rosary Sodality, for women; St. An- 
thony's, St. Louis', St. Agnes' sodalities. 

The pastors of the congregation since its formation have been : 
Rev. Fathers Mannella, Beccherina, C. S. C. B., Orlando, Sovilla, 
Ostino, C. S. C. B., Morrassi, C. S. C. B., and the Rev. J. B. 
Cuneo, C. S. C. B., who is now in charge. Various assistant 
priests have served since 1906. 

The Trustees have been as follows: 1897, Thomas Marinelli, 
Charles Smith; 1898, Thomas Marinelli, Francesco Pellegrini; 
1899, Thomas Marinelli, Francesco Pellegrini ; 1900, James Lan- 
zetta, De Mattia; 1901, James Lanzetta, Francesco Pellegrini; 
1902-6, Francesco Pellegrini, Angelo Valentino ; 1907, John Bar- 
anello, Antonio Ferrari ; 1908, G. B. De Barbieri, Vito Stabile. 

The Italian population is estimated at from 7,000 to 8,000, but 
of these only 800 appear to be regular church-goers. There is, 
therefore, much to be done in awakening the indifferent and re- 
gaining the lapsed, and it is chiefly to the work among the young 
that attention must be directed, for by this means only can a 
strong and healthy permanent congregation be secured. 



ST. ANTHONY OF PADUA 

THE rapid growth of the city, with the trend of population 
pronouncedly to the south, led to a further division of St. 
Mary's, a narrowing of the lines of St. Lucy's and the 
formation of the new parish of St. Anthony of Padua with 
boundary lines running from the D., L. & W. R. R. tracks along 
the south side of Kennedy street westward to Cortland avenue, 
thence by an imaginary line to the new city reservoir and east- 
ward by an imaginary line through Oakwood Cemetery, and 
thence southward to the Reservation of the Onondaga Indians. 
Within its territory is that section of the city formerly known as 
the Village of Elmwood. 

A Sunday-school was established in 1890 and maintained for a 
year by the faculty of St. Mary's, but it was not until the ap- 
pointment of the Rev. Francis J. Quinn, a native of Syracuse, 
formerly assistant priest at St. Mary's and then pastor of St. 
Mathew's, East Syracuse, that the parish was regularly organ- 
ized. 

The first Mass in the parish was said on Sunday, June 2, 1901, 
in Derango's Hall in the 1600 block on South Salina street, by 
Father Quinn, served by Conrad Abend, sexton of the church. 
Among those present were: Henry O'Neil and wife, John E. 
Dockery and wife, Mrs. Sarah Staunton, Miss Anna Muldoon, 
Miss Franc Cahill, Miss Mary O'Neil, Miss Grace Abel, Miss 
Laura Nicholson, Michael Maloney, Patrick J, Tiemey and wife, 
Thomas Anderson, Mrs. B. Connelly, Mrs. William Fulton, Mrs. 
Charles Ashby, Mrs. John Kelly, Jr., Mrs. Patrick Knox, James 
Lewis and wife, Mary Maloney, Miss Anna Maloney. The first 
baptism was that of Mary V. Welch, daughter of Walter Welch 
and Anna Lighton Welch, on June 2, 1901. The first marriage 
was that of Robert Nicholson and Mary O'Neil, September 19, 
1901. 

The lot for the church had been bought in April, from Mrs, 
Anna Shaw, for $7,200, with money that had been loaned for 
the purpose by the Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Ludden ; it extended 265 
feet on Midland avenue and 132 feet on West Colvin street. On 



108 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

the southwest corner of this, ground was broken on the 9th of 
July, for a temporary chapel, auditorium 70 feet x 40 feet, 
sanctuary 25 feet x 20 feet, and sacristy 18 feet x 18 feet, which 
was built by George F. Doxtader and Son and completed on the 
15th day of September, 1901, at a cost of $5,080. 

The building was dedicated on the 15th day of September by 
the Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, assisted by Rt. Rev. Mgr. J. J. 
Kennedy, V. G., Rev. Fathers P. F. McEvoy, William F. 
Dougherty, Timothy F. Howard, James F. O'Shea, James P. 
Magee, Berard Schweitzer, 0. M. C, and Patrick Donohoe, who 
preached the sermon, and twenty-five altar boys, among whom 
were: Thomas Connors, Edward Lewis, "William Collins, Bert 
Dada, Frank Hueber, Bernard Kelly, William Ashby, James 
Tracey. Rev. Berard Schweitzer, O. M. C, sang the Mass, coram 
episcopo, assisted by Rev. William F. Dougherty as deacon. Rev. 
Timothy F. Howard as sub-deacon and Rev. Francis J. Quinn as 
master of ceremonies. The choir, which sung the Mass, were: 
Louis Kammer, Harry Kiddell, Patrick McDermott, William S. 
Broderick, Timothy F. McCrohan, Frank McNulty, Arthur Har- 
tigan, Mrs. Louis Hueber, Misses Laura Kiddell, Julia and Mar- 
garet McDermott, Nellie Perry, Mary 'Neil and I\Irs. Catherine 
Hoag, directed by Miss Anna L. Maloney, organist. 

In July, 1903, the Columbus Hall Company, composed of mem- 
bers of the congregation, was incorporated according to the laws 
of the State of New York, and a parish building was erected at a 
cost of $40,000. The hall proper has a seating capacity of 350 
and is furnished with a complete stage and scenic equipment. 
The second story is divided into meeting rooms, which are used 
by the church societies and the parish branches of the L. C. B. A. 
and C. M. B. A. 

A handsome rectory was later acquired by the parish, a sub- 
stantial three-story double house at the corner of Fage street and 
Midland avenue, and $2,500 has been paid on the purchase price. 

The church debt was liquidated July 9, 1906, and more than 
$5,000 has been paid into the building fund for the new church, 
which the continued growth of the congregation will soon make a 
necessity. Four hundred families are now affiliated with the par- 
ish, an increase of two hundred and fifty-two over the number 
enrolled in June, 1901. 



ST. CECILIA'S CHURCH 

SOLVAY, a thriving village of some 4,000 population, lies on 
the high hills west of Syracuse, adjacent to those wards of 
the city which include the one-time village of Geddes. 
The great chemical industry which called the village into exist- 
ence, and large clay and steel working plants afford employment 
to several thousand men and women, many of whom find resi- 
dence within the city lines. For this reason and because of the 
rapid growth of both the city and village towards these lines a 
plan has been proposed, and an enabling act is now before the 
State Legislature which will permit the annexation of the village 
by the city of Syracuse. The project is to be voted upon by the 
villagers, but there is little doubt but that eventually it will be 
favored and put into force. 

St. Cecilia's parish, which was organized in September, 1903, 
comprises the village of Solvay, with Split Rock and Onondaga 
Hill as out-missions, and Bishop Ludden named the Rev. James 
F. O 'Shea, then assistant pastor of the Cathedral of the Immacu- 
late Conception, to be pastor of the new parish. 

Father 'Shea is a native of Binghamton and received his pre- 
liminary education in the schools of that city. By a striking co- 
incidence his appointment as pastor was made on the twentieth 
anniversary of his entrance to Niagara College, where his courses 
in philosophy and the arts were made. He finished his theo- 
logical studies at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, and was ordained 
to the priesthood by the late Archbishop Corrigan. His first 
assignment was as an assistant at St. John the Baptist's, Syra- 
cuse, but he was almost immediately transferred to St. Mary's, 
where for fourteen years he served as assistant. 

Father O'Shea, immediately after his appointment, began to 
plan the erection of a church and rectory at Solvay. The Town 
Hall was utilized for church purposes temporarily. The congre- 
gation assembled for the first time on Sunday, September 20, 
1903, when a High Mass was sung. In the afternoon Sunday- 
school was organized with 175 children in attendance. 

The young priest and his parishioners labored with great earn- 



110 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

estness and to such good purpose that on Christmas Day of the 
same year the foundation of the church had been built and roofed 
and Mass was that day celebrated for a congregation assembled 
in its own building. 

The church was completed at a cost of $75,000. It is a hand- 
some structure of brick and stone and occupies a commanding 
position on the crown of Wood avenue hill. The church debt is 
now less than $25,000. 

Before the erection of the parish of Solvay the spirit of Catho- 
licity was dormant in the village and comparatively few Catho- 
lics attended the various churches throughout the city. At every 
service now, however, the church is thronged. Societies and so- 
dalities have been organized and St. Cecilia 's is in every way one 
of the most flourishing parishes in the diocese. 

Split Rock and Onondaga Hill, the out-missions of the parish, 
have each a convenient little church. St. Michael's, at the latter 
village, was until the erection of St. Cecilia's, attended from 
Marcellus. The lot upon which St. Peter's Church stands at 
Split Rock was purchased by the first pastor of St. Mary's, Syra- 
cuse, probably in 1844. The church was built many years after, 
but the colony of Irish families which had settled at the Rock was 
attended from St. Mary 's by Father Hess and his successors. 

The stone quarries of the Solvay Process Company give em- 
ployment to a large number of men, but these are mostly Poles 
and Lithuanians and such of them as are Catholics attend the 
Sacred Heart Church in Syracuse. The same is true of the 
latter-day immigrants, who are found in great numbers in Sol- 
vay. St. Cecilia's and its mission parishes are composed princi- 
pally of families of Irish birth and extraction and find their sup- 
port almost entirely in them. 



ONONDAGA COUNTY 



POMPEY 

THE first Christian chapel in Central New York was erected 
in the town of Pompey and from famous Indian Hill the 
Gospel was first announced to the natives of the Onondaga 
country. There in 1655 the Mission of St. John the Baptist was 
established by French Jesuits and maintained until 1696, when 
Onontague, the chief village of the Onondagas and the seat of 
government for the tribes of the Five Nations, was moved to a 
site on Butternut Creek. 

The first certain and historic visit of a white man to these 
parts was that of Samuel de Champlain in 1615.* He had been 
to the Huron country, where Father le Caron, a Recollect mis- 
sionary, had just established himself. Champlain and the adven- 
turous Frenchmen gathered there accompanied the Huron war 
party against the Iroquois. From the circumstances and because 
Champlain 's own journal makes no mention of the fact, it is be- 
lieved that no priest was in the party. In this early march the 
great Frenchman merely passed and repassed through the north- 
east part of Onondaga County. No religious act is mentioned. 

The brief visit of Jean Esprit Radisson, probably in 1652, was 
that of an adopted captive in a Mohawk war party, and needs no 
further mention. The coming of Father Simon le Moyne was 
wholly different. He came on the business of the Church, consol- 
ing captives, healing the sick, hearing confessions, pronouncing 
absolution, proclaiming peace and good will, and baptizing those 
of every age. Every act is plainly before us, each one fully re- 
corded. 

Antiquarians agree that it was to Indian Hill, the site of a 
large town, two and one-half miles south of Manlius village (now 
described as lot 9 of the Town of Pompey) that Father le Moyne 
and his followers came. It may be of interest to know why they 
believe this and a brief statement follows : 



* The monumental stone discovered on Pompey HIU by Phllo Cleveland In 
the year 1820, bearing the date 1520 and the Inscription, "Pope Pius X., by the 
grace of God reigning,— sixth year of his pontiflcate," is pronounced a fraud by 
Dr. William M. Beauchamp, an authority on the early history of the Onondaga 
country, and is so generally regarded. If the stone was genuine, it would mark 
the visit of Spanish missionaries, who were established at the time in Florida, 
and would make 1514 the year of the first visit of a white man. 



POMPEY. 113 

Father le Moyne arrived at the site of Brewerton August 3, 
1654, and spent the night a league farther south. Next day he 
traveled leisurely, and at night was four leagues from Onondaga. 
The next year Chaumonot was more precise. November 4, 1655, 
after leaving the river, he wrote, "We made about six leagues. 
. . . We passed the night in a field at four leagues from On- 
ontague. ' ' That is, it was ten leagues by estimate from Oneida 
River to the Onondaga town, and forest distances always seem 
long. In this case Gen. J. S. Clark, an eminent authority, made 
the ten leagues equal twenty-five miles. In March, 1656, Father 
Dablon left Onondaga and went eleven leagues to Oneida Lake, 
if we add two distances. Gen. Clark, however, thought the six 
small leagues of the second day included the first, and this seems 
correct. The town evidently was south of that lake, which was 
crossed on the ice. 

Father le Moyne left Onondaga August 15, camped on the way, 
and reached the salt springs and Onondaga Lake August 16. He 
did not mention the distance to the springs, but the next year 
Father Dablon called it four leagues. The Relation of 1657 said 
that from the fort on the lake the Father Superior went "to the 
Town of Onontague, distant five small leagues from our dwell- 
ing." That is, Onondaga was about thirteen miles from the mis- 
sion site of Ste. Marie of Gannentaa. Greenhalgh, in describing 
the Onondaga town in 1677, * ' situate on a hill that is very large, ' ' 
made it fifteen miles from Oneida Lake, and thirty-six from the 
Oneida town. These distances center at Indian Hill. 

Another evidence is that of relics on this large town site. At 
the next earlier site, a few miles south, European relics abound, 
but none are of a religious character. On Indian Hill many 
crosses and crucifixes, medals and rings, bearing sacred emblems, 
have been found and are yet found. The most remarkable thing, 
however, was the recovery of fragments of a large bell, supposed 
to have been brought from the mission at the lake, and often rung 
by the great Garakonthie to call the French captives, the Chris- 
tian Hurons and others to worship. It seems needless to give 
other proofs of location. 

The coming of Father le Mojoie to the Town of Pompey was an 
occasion of great religious and historic interest, the 250th anni- 
versary of which was duly celebrated at Pompey Hill, August 15, 



114 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

1904. A brief mention will be made of some of his religious acts 
after he reached the Onondaga town, where he was enthusiastic- 
ally received. 

August 6 he gave medicine to sick children, some of whom he 
baptized, and also confessed some of the old Huron Christians. 
The next day he baptized a captive girl of the Neutral nation, at 
the request of a Huron woman, who gave her the name of Therese. 
"This was the first baptism of adults at Onontague, for which 
we are indebted to the piety of a Huron. ' ' August 8 he baptized 
three sick children and confessed several persons. August 10, 
said the Father, at the council, **I opened the proceedings by a 
public prayer, which I made on my knees, and in a loud voice, all 
in the Huron tongue." This greatly impressed the assembled 
chiefs. August 12 he confessed Christian Hurons before going 
away, and baptized a dying girl. His most important act was 
just before his departure, August 15, when he baptized the young 
Onondaga chief who was to lead in the Erie war. The next day's 
record gave him more celebrity. "The 16th. We arrive at the 
entrance of a small lake, in a great basin half dried ; we taste the 
water of a spring which they dare not drink, saying that there is 
a demon within it which renders it fetid; having tasted it, I 
found that it was a fountain of salt water ; and in fact we made 
salt from it as natural as that from the sea. ' ' This great discov- 
ery, practically the foundation of a great city, is now commemo- 
rated in Syracuse by the Kirkpatrick fountain and its fine his- 
toric group, of which Father le Moyne is the central figure. 

Fathers Chaumonot and Dablon arrived at Onondaga Novem- 
ber 5, 1655. Sunday, November 14, they said they "could not 
commence better than by the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which 
we celebrated on a little altar in an oratory used in the cabin of 
Teotonharason, ' ' a woman of high standing. 

November 11, Father Dablon visited "the salt fountain, which 
is only four leagues from here, near the lake called Gannentaa, 
the place chosen for the French settlement. " " The seventeenth, 
after we had celebrated Holy Mass, they brought us to take the 
measures of a chapel. It was built the next day, and as a good 
omen it was the day of the dedication of the Church of Saint 
Peter and Saint Paul. It is true that in place of marble and all 
precious metals we used only bark. So soon as it was constructed 



POMPEY. 115 

it was sanctified by the baptism of three children." Thus, on 
Indian Hill, was erected the first chapel among the Iroquois. 
One further note may be made on this : ' ' The twenty-eighth, the 
first Sunday in Advent, there was made the first solemn Cate- 
chism in one of the most considerable cabins of Onontague, our 
chapel being too small ; ' ' and Christmas was duly celebrated. 

July 11, 1656, the French colony entered Onondaga Lake, set- 
tling on lot 106, Salina, near the railroad bridge. Father Chau- 
monot had remained at Onondaga, and with the colonists were 
Fathers Francis le Mercier, Rene Menard, Jacques Fremin, 
Claude Dablon, and Brothers Ambrose Broat and Joseph Bour- 
sier. The next Sunday, July 16, they all accomplished a vow 
made that all would commune together if they arrived safely. 
Visits were made to Onondaga, five short leagues away, and then 
they returned to the lake, where the ''French were working to 
prepare us a house that we shall call Sainte Marie of Gannen- 
taa. ' ' This was the seat of the colony, but not strictly the field of 
direct mission work. The chapel there was for the French rather 
than the Indians, though the latter came there for instruction, 
relief, or out of curiosity, sometimes camping for weeks outside 
the fort. About a hundred men were thus cabined when the fort 
was evacuated. 

The mission work proper was done elsewhere. '*We had built 
a chapel at Onontague; a part of our Fathers having remained 
there, the others went through the cabins," preaching, teaching 
and baptizing. The colonists were differently occupied. ''The 
French who are at Ste. Marie of the Lake of Gannentaa, per- 
formed all the trades of a town to lodge us all, to preserve us in 
the midst of these barbarous nations." Their industry there 
gave strength to the real missionary work elsewhere. 

After the retreat of 1658, Father le Moyne visited Onondaga in 
1661, and dated his letter "From the chapel of Onontague," 
which was still used by French and Huron captives. Garakon- 
thie, ' ' the Father of the French, ' ' took care that worship should 
be maintained on Indian Hill. The details are of much interest. 

Father Julien Garnier resumed the work at Onondaga in 1668, 
and at once had a new chapel built. He was quickly followed by 
Father Pierre Milet, the mission being thenceforth known as St. 
John Baptist. As such it continued at Indian Hill and a little 



116 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

south of Jamesville until 1687, surviving the general withdrawal 
of the Jesuits in 1684. Father Milet left the mission in 1672, and 
was succeeded by Father Jean de Lamberville. In 1679 he was 
replaced by Father Bruyas, but returned in 1681, and described 
the removal of the town to Butternut Creek, where it was burned 
in 1696. This site is on lot 3, old town of Pompey, and has 
yielded many religious emblems. Father Jacques de Lamberville 
joined his brother there, and they remained till 1687. Two Chris- 
tian Onondaga women became martyrs there somewhat later. 

Garakonthie had been the firm friend of the French from the 
first, and was baptized at Quebec in 1670, receiving the highest 
honors possible, the Bishop of Quebec both baptizing and confirm- 
ing him. There were great rejoicings there. At Christmas, 1675, 
he took a fatal cold while attending the midnight Mass at the 
Onondaga Chapel, and died soon after, asking Father de Lam- 
berville to bury him in a coffin, and to place a lofty cross to mark 
his grave. In 1702 Father de Lamberville again had a house and 
chapel at the new village on Butternut Creek, and Father de 
I'Heu wrote from there May 24, 1708. The next year Abraham 
Schuyler induced Father de Lamberville to go to Montreal to re- 
port, and then persuaded Father de Mareuil to seek refuge in Al- 
bany. The Onondagas then burned the house and chapel. There 
was another attempt to build a chapel there in 1711, but Colonel 
Schuyler interfered. A few years later the Onondagas removed 
to Onondaga Valley, and no more missions were undertaken. All 
the Indian chapels proper had been in the old town of Pompey. 
Those known to have officiated there were Fathers le Moyne, 
Chaumonot, Dablon, le Mercier, Gamier, Milet, Bruyas, the two 
de Lambervilles, de I'Heu and de Mareuil. Others were there at 
conferences, the central position of Onondaga making it conven- 
ient for them. 

Two hundred years have passed since the noble sons of Loyola 
were forced to leave their beloved "Children of the Forest" a 
prey to the merciless advance of the "Pale Face." That which 
the "Medicine Man" could not effect has been successfully ac- 
complished by our "methods of modern civilization," and the 
remnants of the once proud Iroquois are, as these lines are 
penned, sacrificing the "White Dog" and enjoying their pagan 
ceremonies. 



POMPEY. 117 

After this epoch in the local history of the Church there ap- 
pears to have been no marked presence of Catholicity until the 
year 1836, when the remarkable conversion of Captain David L. 
Dodge and his distinguished family occurred. 

It was in the month of March, 1835, the spring after what was 
known as "the winter of the deep snows," an Irish peddler 
named Francis Murphy, lost his way while journeying through a 
severe storm from Syracuse to Cazenovia. Near the home of 
Captain Dodge his vehicle was broken and himself and his horse 
nearly exhausted. He asked for shelter and was cheerfully made 
welcome for the night. 

In the genial warmth of the little living room where they were 
all seated after the evening meal, Mr. Dodge and his wife began 
to interrogate their guest concerning his personal history after 
closely observing his face, which showed a genial nature, honesty 
and sincerity. ''May I ask," said Mr. Dodge, "what is your re- 
ligion?" "I am a Roman Catholic," said he, pleased to avow his 
faith. Then followed numerous questions as what is the belief of 
the Catholic Church upon various points. What the peddler 
lacked in education was supplied with natural ability. To many 
questions asked, Mrs. Dodge being the leading spirit in the inter- 
view, he frankly and prudently answered that he could not ex- 
plain what they desired to know and added that owing to the 
cruel and oppressive laws of England, it was almost impossible 
for a poor Catholic in Ireland to receive an education ; that he 
had been instructed in the Catholic faith by his parents and 
taught his catechism by his parish priest, and although he could 
not explain all they wished to know, yet he believed whatever the 
Church wished him to believe, and if they would accept them 
from him he would give them books which would explain the 
Catholic faith. 

With his usual keen discernment of character, Captain Dodge 
was strongly impressed with the sincerity and honesty of his 
guest, and during the evening's interview had formed a strong 
attachment to him. He did not partake of the alarm of his wife, 
who probably had seldom seen an Irishman or a Catholic. He 
was ready and willing to administer kind advice. He expressed 
his sorrow that such a sensible young man could believe in the 
Catholic Church. He also expressed pity that he should be so 



118 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

deceived and, curious to hear what answer he would give, expos- 
tulated with him and expressed surprise that he should believe in 
the doctrines of the Catholic Church. Murphy at that moment 
planted the seed of divine faith in the home of Captain Dodge. 
' ' Do not pity me at all, sir, but pity yourself and your family. I 
have the faith, and I shall live and die in it, and if you only knew 
what the Catholic faith is you would have a better opinion of it. ' ' 
This ended the evening's interview. Soon after they all retired 
for the night. 

After a refreshing slumber the family and guest were early 
stirring, ready to encounter the labor and duties of another day. 
As soon as the morning meal was finished the peddler graciously 
thanked his host for his kindness and offered to pay for his enter- 
tainment and the care of his horse. In keeping with his prover- 
bial generosity and well known hospitality. Captain Dodge re- 
fused to accept pay. Then the peddler, with a smile, asked if he 
might make him a present of some books on the Catholic religion, 
saying, "One good turn deserves another." The manifest good 
nature of the peddler and his evident desire not to be over- 
matched in generosity, pleased Mr. Dodge and he not only ac- 
cepted the gift, but cordially invited Mr. Murphy to call at his 
home when and as often as he should pass that way. The peddler 
often after spent nights at the house of Captain Dodge and they 
became close friends and when the latter went to Syracuse in 
later years he called at Mr. Murphy's home and enjoyed the 
pleasure of many interesting visits. Among the books presented 
to Captain Dodge were two volumes of Sermons and Moral Dis- 
courses by Rev. W. Gahan, 0. S. A., published in Dublin in the 
year 1799. 

These books Mr. Dodge began to read. They were the first 
Catholic works on the subject of religion he had seen, and as he 
continued to read he was surprised at the strength of the argu- 
ments drawn from Scripture, from reason and the early Fathers. 

Other books were ordered from Baltimore and New York and 
they continued to study a subject in which both had now become 
thoroughly interested ; Mrs. Dodge being the more receptive, be- 
came converted first and asked her husband to take her to Utiea 
that she might be received into the Church. In accordance with 
her desire she was taken to Utica and there baptized in old St. 



POMPEY. 119 

John's Church, July 29, 1836. Her sponsors were Captain J. H. 
Dwight, also a convert, and Mary A. Manahan. 

It is unnecessary to enlarge upon the consternation and wide- 
spread sensation the conversion of Mr. and Mrs. Dodge caused in 
Pompey, and especially in the Congregational Church, of which 
both had been active members. A few facts may be given to 
elucidate the sincerity and independent character of the Dodge 
family. The minister and elders of the church thought it proper 
and advisable to charge them with heresy and procure their trial 
before an ecclesiastical court. The trial of Mrs. Dodge was first 
moved. She voluntarily consented to answer any questions to 
her best ability that might properly be asked. She was asked her 
belief upon various points of doctrine and she promptly replied. 
When the proceedings had continued for some time, to the aston- 
ishment of all there assembled and even herself, as she afterward 
admitted, she stood up in the midst of the people and said : "My 
belief, my whole belief, is in what the Roman Catholic Church 
teaches. All whatever that church teaches I firmly believe ; all 
whatever that church condemns, I disbelieve and reject. Now 
this is my faith, and I bid you farewell. ' ' The court refused to 
hear Captain Dodge's reasons for his belief in the divinity of 
Christ and both were expelled. 

Soon after Mrs. Dodge had become a member of the Catholic 
Church, Mr. Dodge set aside a large room in his house for 
religious service and arranged to have Mass celebrated at his 
home the first Tuesday of each month. The first Mass there cele- 
brated was conducted by Father Rolfe, an Augustinian, at which 
were eight persons, six of whom were of the Dodge family. 
Mr. Dodge was very deliberate in his investigations of theology. 
His habits of thought were exact and logical. He brought pray- 
ers to his aid in determining his duty. He devoted all the time 
he could spare from other duties to the study of the Bible and the 
most learned and exhaustive commentaries thereon. He corre- 
sponded with the most eminent priests in the Catholic Church. 
At last, after he became thoroughly convinced as to what was his 
duty in the premises, he went with the confidence of a child to an 
earthly parent to St. John the Baptist Church in Salina and was 
baptized and formally received into the Catholic Church on the 
25th day of December, 1837. This event is recorded in the old 



120 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Bible now in the custody of Mrs. Delia M. Wheeler at Pompey 
Hill. Thomas McCarthy and Eliza Lynch, prominent pioneer 
Catholics of Salina, now included in the city of Syracuse, were 
his sponsors upon his admission into the Church. 

The news of the conversion of Captain Dodge and his wife and 
their admission into the Catholic Church spread with almost in- 
credible speed throughout the United States and was heralded 
across the ocean. Articles upon the subject soon appeared in the 
papers of Ireland, England and France. In Paris an exhaustive 
article was published in the Annals of the Propaganda of the 
Faith giving in detail the manner of their conversion and the 
widespread influence it exerted in their native land. These arti- 
cles were eagerly sought by the leading people of England, 
France, and especially Ireland, where a large proportion of the 
people were casting earnest and longing glances toward the land 
of civil and religious liberty. The effect was that among the 
influx of emigrants who sought refuge from oppression upon the 
welcome shores of America, many directed their steps to the 
classic hills and valleys of Pompey, where they had learned Cap- 
tain Dodge resided. To all such a hearty welcome was extended. 

In a very few years a majority of the new settlers had accumu- 
lated savings sufficient to purchase farms. In the meantime they 
had not been forgetful of their duties to their church. The resi- 
dence of Captain Dodge became too small to accommodate the 
growing numbers and a more commodious place of worship was 
procured on Pompey Hill on the south side of the street opposite 
the Academy. This in a few years in turn became too small and 
Daniel G. Wheaton, a Protestant and son-in-law of Captain 
Dodge, negotiated with the few official members of the Baptist 
Church remaining, whose members had mostly become disciples, 
for the sale of the old Baptist Church to the Catholics. This was 
in a brief period accomplished and the title properly transferred. 
This was perfected during the pastorate of Rev. Father 'Reilly. 
He also purchased of Homer Pratt the pastoral residence, a large 
and commodious house, together with three acres of land, located 
in the center of the village. These were put in good repair dur- 
ing the life of Captain Dodge and answered the wants of the 
growing parish for several years. 

Captain Dodge was an important factor in the planting and 



POMPEY. 121 

upbuilding of the Irish colony in Pompey. He was the founder 
of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Pompey. About 
the year 1850, as the membership had increased, the place of wor- 
ship was transferred to Pompey Hill. 

The Rev. James O'Donnel, an Augustinian, also served at 
Pompey. His ministrations were succeeded by those of the Rev. 
Father Heas of Salina, who attended this section for some time. 
Rev. Dr. 'Hara was the next priest to officiate at the residence 
of Captain Dodge. 

. The first Mass said on Pompey Hill was in 1857, by the Rev. 
Father Cahill, in the house now occupied by Thomas Dwyer. 
Other priests who attended this mission on different occasions 
were Fathers Hackett, Rooney, and Comey. 

Among the pioneer Catholics who resided here at this time 
were: Patrick Quigley, Thomas Cox, David Costello, Patrick 
Conway, John McCormick, Richard McCormick, Richard Byrne, 
Patrick Byrnes, Martin Ryan, James Cowan, Murtie Quirk, 
Daniel Quirk, Edward Hayden, John Garrett, Lawrence Garrett, 
Andrew Coleman, Michael Breen, Lawrence, Martin and Michael 
Clear, Simon Murphy, James Oley, John Oley, Charles Oley, 
Thomas and William Clancy, Captain Ryan, Anthony Carroll, 
John, Thomas and Patrick Walsh, Matthew Walsh, James Walsh, 
William Tallon, Michael Tallon, John Weldon, William Kelley, 
James Tallon. 

The first resident pastor was Father John FitzPatrick, who took 
charge of the Pompey Mission in 1871. The rigorous weather 
conditions, a characteristic of Pompey during the winter, soon 
told on Father FitzPatrick, who was not of a very robust nature, 
for after laboring about a year he died August 15, 1872, in the 
Academy house which he was using at that time as a rectory. 
His funeral was held at Pompey and interment was made at 
Cohoes, his old home. 

The first trustees were Lawrence Clear and Michael Breen and 
later Patrick Gorman and James Ryan filled that position. The 
trustees at the present time are Patrick Brennau and John H. 
Oley, who have served for twenty-five years. 

Father FitzPatrick was succeeded by Rev. Michael O'Reilly. 
Father 'R^illy was a most energetic man, whose noble work in 
the cause of Catholicity has left a lasting impression in the par- 



122 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

ish. He was of a stern temperament and under his firm yet 
kindly guidance, his labors for the Church have been rewarded 
by the sterling quality of the faith of this community. Besides 
Pompey, Father O'Reilly attended two out-missions, LaFayette 
and Fabius. In January, 1887, Father John V. Simmons was 
appointed assistant pastor and the out-mission of Otisco was 
added to the pastorate. Father O'Reilly continued in charge 
until 1891, when he was appointed pastor of St. Agnes' Church, 
Utica. Father Simmons was appointed pastor as his successor. 
He immediately began the erection of a new church to take the 
place of the one purchased in 1866, and it was through his earn- 
est efforts that to-day Pompey is able to boast of as beautiful and 
well appointed a church as there is in any parish of its size in the 
diocese. Father Simmons continued in his great work, attending 
the out-missions of LaFayette and Fabius without an assistant 
until 1896, when he was appointed pastor of St. Paul's Church, 
Binghamton. 

Rev. Albert J. Hayes was appointed pastor of the Pompey par- 
ish to succeed Father Simmons. Father Hayes was born in Syra- 
cuse and his parents are still residents of that place. Father 
Hayes made his preparation for the priesthood at Manhattan 
College and St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. He was of a most 
amiable disposition and soon won the good-will not only of his 
congregation, but also of the community at large. During Father 
Hayes' pastorate the church was repainted and the debt was 
greatly reduced. At this time the out-missions were Fabius and 
LaFayette. During his absence on a trip abroad. Rev. Thomas 
J. Flynn, now pastor at Chittenango, took his place. On being 
called upon to fill the vacancy at Cazenovia, Father Hayes car- 
ried with him the good will and best wishes of the people of Pom- 
pey. 

The present pastor, Rev. George S. Mahon, was appointed to 
succeed Father Hayes and took charge January 25, 1903. Father 
Mahon was born in Syracuse, February 1, 1860, and received his 
education at the Fayetteville Academy, Niagara College and St. 
Joseph's Seminary, Troy. He was ordained by Bishop Mc- 
Nierny December 18, 1886. Previous to this appointment. Father 
Mahon was pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Oxford, for fourteen 
years. 



POMPEY. 123 

At the present time the congregation of the Church of the Im- 
maculate Conception numbers about 550 people. 

While the interests of the church have always been consid- 
ered of the first importance the temporal welfare of the members 
has not been neglected. At first laborers for wages they have 
gradually saved their earnings through prudent counsel until the 
accumulated sums laid up have enabled a large percentage to pur- 
chase farms. And as fifty years ago not one tilled his own farm, 
to-day nearly all are owners of real estate, while many are among 
the most opulent farmers of Pompey, and others still, as the sun- 
set of life approaches, are retired from active physical service 
with an ample competence to gladden their hearts through their 
declining years, while their descendants are swelling the ranks of 
the learned professions or seeking positions of honor and useful- 
ness in the various spheres of enterprise and noble endeavor. 

Before leaving this story of Captain Dodge's conversion, men- 
tion should be made of other converts, now deceased, from this 
notable family, namely the Rev, Homer Wheaton, an Episco- 
palian minister, and who gave to the Catholic Church at Pompey 
a beautiful statue of the Immaculate Conception, in grateful ac- 
knowledgement of the many special blessings received through 
the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary D. Dawson, 
sister of Edward Dawson, president of the Onondaga County 
Savings Bank, and Mrs. Lucinda C. Pratt, a life long resident of 
Pompey. 

The peddler, Francis Murphy, came to America in 1826 and 
settled in Utica, where he remained about ten years. May 4, 
1835, he was married by the Rev. Father Bradley to a Protestant 
lady whom he also converted. His home was a happy one, and 
one of his daughters became a nun, entering the religious state 
June 12, 1870, and is at present stationed in a convent at Ports- 
mouth, W. Va. Soon after his marriage he moved to Syracuse, 
where he resided more than forty years. He was one of the 
founders of St. Lucy's Church and an ardent church worker. 
He died March 8, 1883, aged 83 years. A headstone marks his 
burial place in old St. Mary's Cemetery. 



124 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

FABIUS 

The first Mass in Fabius was celebrated in 1872, by the Rev. 
John FitzPatriek, pastor of the congregation at Pompey, of 
which Fabius was and since that time has been an out-mission. 
Among those present at the first Mass were: Edmund Shea, 
Thomas Sheenan, Charles Oley, John L. Hartnett, Patrick Tobin, 
John Tobin, James Powers, Daniel Hartnett, John Young, 
Stephen Ryan, Patrick Sheehan, Daniel Heffernan, James Hef- 
fernan, Thomas Snigg, and their families. Mr. Hartnett an- 
swered Mass. 

Fabius was attended by Father FitzPatriek till his death, 
which occurred in August, 1873. 

The Rev. Michael O'Reilly then assumed the pastorate of the 
Pompey mission and attended this place till 1891, when he was 
appointed pastor of St. Agnes' Church, Utica. 

The Rev. John V. Simmons, as Father 'Reilly 's assistant, at- 
tended this mission during the latter part of Father O'Reilly's 
pastorate, and when he received the appointment as pastor at 
Pompey, he continued in charge of this mission. 

During Father Simmons' pastorate a church was purchased 
from the Universalist Society of Fabius and was fitted up to be 
used as a Catholic church. Prior to this time Mass was celebrated 
in a room in Stewart's Hall. 

The Rev. Albert J. Hayes succeeded Father Simmons upon his 
removal to St. Paul 's, Binghamton. 

Fabius is now attended by Rev. G. S. Mahon, who was ap- 
pointed pastor at Pompey to succeed Father Hayes. Mass is cele- 
brated every third Sunday. 

There are about 150 persons in the congregation. 



LAFAYETTE 

The first Mass celebrated in LaFayette was said by the Rev. 
Dr. 'Hara of Syracuse in 1856, at the home of Lawrence Byrne. 
Among those present at this Mass were : Lawrence, Charles and 
John Byrne, James Coleman, Michael McManus, Thomas Cox, 
Lawrence Clear, Thomas McManus, Barney McManus, Timothy 
Downey, Dennis Donovan, John Carey, James Keough, Timothy 
and Patrick Gorman, and their families. 



LAFAYETTE. 125 

Mass was celebrated at the homes of the various Catholic fami- 
lies till 1866, when Stephen Ryan purchased the old hotel for a 
church. This served as a place of worship till 1888, when the 
present structure, St. Joseph's, was erected. Mr, Ryan, Charles 
and Lawrence Byrne were the building committee. 

Since the organization of the congregation, LaFayette has been 
attended by the pastors of the church at Pompey, of which it is 
an out-mission. 

Thomas McManus has served as trustee since the organization 
of the church in LaFayette. John Carey served with him for a 
number of years. Pierce Grace and Mr. McManus are the pres- 
ent trustees. 

Mass is celebrated two Sundays out of every three by the Rev. 
G. S. Mahon, pastor at Pompey. 

The congregation numbers about 225 people. 



MINOA 

MINOA — until November, 1895, knoMTi as Manlius Station 
— is a quiet little village in the town of Manlius, situ- 
ated about nine miles east of Syracuse, along the New 
York Central Railroad, and forming the east end of the DeWitt 
railroad yards. 

At the north end of the village, at the comer of the Main road 
to Bridgeport and the road known as Silver street, stands St. 
Mary's Church. 

The parish is one of the oldest of Onondaga County, and con- 
sists mostly of farmers living within an area extending about 
seven miles from the north to the south, and about seven miles 
from the east to the west. 

The first settler was a Felix Fieselmayer, who came in 1825 
from the Archduchy of Baden, in Germany, followed in 1827 by 
other countrymen: Mathias Suther and Jacob Unmuessig. In 
1828 these were followed by Ignatius Heifer; and in 1829, by 
Theobald Troh and Sebastian and John Kueppele, immigrants 
from Alsace. Year after year this settlement was augmented by 
the arrival of immigrants from the province of Alsace and 
Loraine (mostly from the former) , so that in the year 1832 there 
were over thirty Catholic families. These pioneer settlers had 
many and great sacrifices to make in this land of their adoption, 
the greatest of which was to be deprived of the holy Sacrifice of 
the Mass and the sacraments. 

In the early 30 's missionary priests began to visit these people 
and administer to their spiritual wants. These visits were made 
once or twice a year by some transient priest who spoke their 
mother tongue. The first of these priests of whom mention is 
made on the parish records, is Rev. Father Werich. Later on 
came Rev. Francis Guth, who in 1837 was in charge of Rosiere, 
N. Y., thence attending Clayton and all Jefferson County, except- 
ing a few places in charge of Carthage ; afterwards, from 1844 to 
1850 pastor of St. Louis' Church, Buffalo ; returning to his native 



MINOA. 127 

Strassburg Diocese, where, it is said, he died in the 80 's at an 
advanced age. 

Mass was at such visits celebrated in the homes of the settlers 
and at whatever place convenient to the people. From reliable 
sources, it can be stated that the first Mass celebrated in this sec- 
tion was said in the log-house of Ignatius Heifer, situated about 
where now stands the old Heifer homestead, opposite St. Mary 's 
Cemetery. At other times Mass was read in the homes of Caspar 
Fabing and Adam Bucher, and occasionally in the old log-school, 
which stood on the old road going north, which would now be at 
a point to the south side of Silver street at the ditch crossing this 
highway — about thirty-eight rods west of the present church. 

About 1837, the people began to look about them for a suitable 
location whereon to erect a proper place of worship ; and this is 
said to have been during the time of Father Guth's visits. Land 
sufficient for such a building and for a proper place of burial was 
given by Caspar Hullar, at a point now situated on the highway 
leading from Minoa to North Manlius, opposite to where now 
stands the Methodist Church. Trees had been felled by the set- 
tlers, timber hewn, drawn to this location and put in readiness to 
proceed with the building; but some misunderstanding having 
arisen, this site was abandoned, and the timbers drawn away to 
the northeast corner of what is known as Lot No. 34, the present 
church property. This ground — about three-fourths of an acre 
— ^was donated by Adam Uth and Michael Remlinger. The deed 
of this transfer is jointly signed on the 5th of April, 1838, by 
Adam Uth and Magdalen his wife and Michael Remlinger and 
conveys the land to Joseph Schneider, Joseph Fabing, Sr., An- 
thony Laubach, John Kueppele, Caspar Konrad, Theobald Troh, 
Ignatius Heifer and Felix Fieselmayer, ' ' as trustees, for the use 
of the Roman Catholics for them to build a house of public wor- 
ship on the premises described, ' ' This deed, after describing the 
lay of the land, reads: "Being the same premises where the 
Roman Catholic meeting house now stands. ' ' The exact time of 
building the church cannot be given ; but it would seem that it 
was in the early part of this year. This deed mentions the fact 
of its existence, whilst the deed of a transfer of the self -same 
piece of land made January 6, 1838, between Adam Uth and 
Michael Remlinger, mentions nothing about the church. The 



128 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

church built under the supervision of Felix Fieselmayer, was a 
simple hemlock frame building with a width and length of 30x40 
feet, having a height of about 20 feet ; with a roof of about one- 
third pitch and without a tower. 

This little mission was until the early 40 's occasionally visited 
by priests from Salina. Amongst these priests were Rev. Fathers 
Guerdet and Michael Heas. Later on it became a mission at- 
tached to Utica, as is shown by the entry which opens the Parish 
Records proper: **I, Adalbert Inama, pastor of St. Joseph's, 
Utica, baptized at Manlius on the 7th of November, 1843," etc. ; 
after which words appear the names of seven children baptized 
on that day, the second of whom is Joseph Heifer, still an active 
member of this parish. Father Inama was a Premonstratentian 
missionary, who cared for the Germans of this region, as appears 
in the Assumption Church (Syracuse) Records. 

Father Inama became first pastor of the Church of the As- 
sumption, Syracuse, whence he continued to attend Manlius Sta- 
tion until November, 1845, when he was succeeded both in Syra- 
cuse and Manlius Station by Rev. Francis X. Roth, who in June, 
1846, was followed by Rev. Theodore Noethen, a man of profound 
learning and great zeal. 

Father Noethen remained until about November, 1849, when for 
the next four months he was succeeded by Rev. Father Marschal, 
who was not in charge of Syracuse. After this. Father Noethen 's 
successor in Syracuse attended; and this was Father Schwen- 
inger, who leaves this entry in the Syracuse record : * * I, Florian 
Schweninger, of the Order of St. Benedict, a Tyrolese, previously 
pastor of Utica, have taken charge of the souls of this place on 
the 1st of November, 1849. Pious Reader ! remember me, whether 
dead or alive, in thy sacred functions!" He, according to his 
own statement, gave up his charge September 15, 1850, when 
Rev. Simon Sanderl came. Father Sanderl (or, according to 
Rochester Chronicle, Father Saenderl) was some few years pre- 
vious in Rochester, N. Y., a member of the Redemptorists, and in 
the Syracuse records he is said, by his successor, to be "of the 
Order of St Liguori. ' ' But at this time he seems to have already 
left the Redemptorists, which is surely so in 1843, in which year 
the Redemptorist Chronicle of Rochester reads : ' * In the month 
of July Rev. Simon Saenderl, no longer one of ours, passed 



MINOA. 129 

through this city and made a brief stay in this house. He was on 
his way to Jerusalem, which pilgrimage he made to fulfill a vow. ' ' 
He is said to have died a Trappist. 

Father Sanderl's successor makes this entry in the Manlius 
records: "On the 23rd day of May, 1851, Joseph Raffeiner, a 
Tyrolese, made his entrance into this place." During this ad- 
ministration a tower was placed on the small church, and a bell 
weighing about 350 pounds, installed. Some would have it that 
the rectory was built about 1849 ; but it is more probable that it 
was built under Father Raffeiner. This was a two-story frame 
building with two large and two small rooms downstairs; and 
one large and two smaller rooms upstairs. It was built by John 
B. VanSehoiek for $600 ; and was situated at the northwest end 
of the nine-acre plot, being about forty rods distant from the 
church. Also about this time the one-story frame school was 
erected, containing one school-room and two small rooms for the 
teacher's residence. Father Raffeiner was not the first resident 
pastor, for he remained pastor of both Syracuse and Manlius 
until February, 1852, when he was relieved of his Manlius charge 
to give more time to Syracuse. At this time, February 14, 1852, 
Father Sanderl again visited Manlius; and then, February 21, 
Rev. Columbanus Messner took charge until the summer of the 
same year. He is then, perhaps, the first resident pastor. After 
his departure the parish was again, until May, 1853, attended by 
Father Raffeiner of Syracuse. 

In May, Rev. Henry Feddermann came as resident pastor and 
remained until the next November, when he was succeeded by Rev. 
Father Tappert, who in 1851 left the Redemptorists and became 
a secular priest, but in 1878 had for some time lived with the 
Carthusians in Valsainte, Suevia, known simply as Father Dio- 
nysius. September 1, 1854, Rev. John Constans "Weber came and 
remained until the following December, when he was succeeded 
by Rev. Joseph Maly. Again Manlius is without a resident pas- 
tor, for when Father Maly was made pastor of Assumption 
Church, Syracuse, he attended from the city, as did his successor. 
Rev. Frederic Mueller, who in December, 1856, was in charge of 
Manlius, when it became a mission attended from Rome, until 
July, 1857. This can be seen from the signature of Rev. Law- 



130 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

rence Schneyder, who signs himself "Pastor of Rome and Man- 
lius." 

A resident pastor was again found July 18, 1857, in the Bene- 
dictine monk, Rev. Maurus Ramsauer, who remained until No- 
vember, 1868. About 1858 an addition of about eighteen feet 
was built to the church. This was constructed by Archibald Wal- 
rath, and the entire church building was now encased with new 
siding of pine clapboards and reshingled. September 5, 1860, 
Rt. Rev. John McCloskey, Bishop of Albany (afterwards Cardi- 
nal Archbishop of New York), administered the sacrament of 
confirmation to forty-one boys and forty-one girls. 

In 1867 the cemetery was enlarged and the purchase sum of 
$500 was raised by the people, each parishioner to subscribe $5, 
for which such subscriber was to receive the use of a plot upon 
this cemetery sufficiently large to bury eight persons, those hav- 
ing given $10, received two burial plots. 

During the eleven years ' administration of Father Maurus, the 
Franciscan Fathers of Syracuse often rendered him assistance. 
About 1867 or 1868, another addition of eighteen feet was built 
to the church by Peter Snyder, Sr. This gave the church a 
dimension of 30x76 feet ; and giving it to the west end two small 
rooms of 10x18 feet to each side of a sanctuary 10 feet wide. The 
rear of the altar was used as a confessional. Sometime in Novem- 
ber, 1868, Father Maurus departed from Manlius, leaving it 
again without a pastor, though it was regularly visited by Rev. 
A. Carius of Rome, and by other priests, such as I'abbe Ritter 
and Rev. Father Kueng. About November, 1869, Rev. Father 
Meyer became resident pastor, and in the spring of 1870 he in- 
vited Rev. Francis M. Neubauer, 0. M. C, of Albany, to conduct 
a mission. Father Francis was assisted in this mission by Rev. 
Constantine De Troste Huellshof, a priest then in the Novitiate 
of the Franciscan Fathers at Syracuse. In spite of every effort 
to settle those various small dissensions which so often arose be- 
tween the old-style trustees and their clergy, a new trouble was 
brewing; on which account Father Noethen (formerly pastor, 
then Very Rev. Vicar General of the Diocese of Albany) was 
obliged to come to Manlius on the 24th of June, 1870. After this 
Rev. J. Herman Wibbe, a newly ordained priest, was given this 
place as his first pastoral charge. He was removed in October, 



MINOA. 131 

1871, to St. Peter's, Oswego. Rev. Henry Fehlings was appointed 
his successor. Father Fehlings remained until in April, 1873, as 
is seen from the writings of his successor: "On the 19th of 
April, 1873, I took charge of souls in Manlius Station ; and the 
articles described in the inventory of Rev. Fehlings are all found 
in the rectory. Charles Hengen, pastor. ' ' 

The new cemetery purchased in 1867, lay to the rear of the 
District No. 2 school ; and it was deemed by many unbecoming 
that the children should make the cemetery their playgrounds. 
The town authorities resolved to remove the school from this site. 
This lot was given to Conrad Shoemaker in exchange for another 
place on the other side of the highway. The only entrance to the 
cemetery was through the old school lot; hence it was found 
necessary to purchase this property. It was obtained May 10, 
1875, for $400 from Conrad Shoemaker and Frederica his wife, 
and conveyed to John Joseph Conroy, Right Rev. Bishop of Al- 
bany. By this purchase the cemetery was extended along the line 
of the lot of the "German Lutheran Evangelical Church So- 
ciety ' ' to the highway. The few words of the parish records of 
1875 speak of Father Hengen: "On the 11th day of July, Rev. 
Charles Hengen died suddenly, and was buried on the 13th day 
of July in the new cemetery. ' ' Father Hengen was found dead 
in bed on the Sunday morning (July 11th) by his altar boy, 
Frank Sutter. This sudden death caused great excitement, for 
foul play with intent of robbery was suspected ; but the cause of 
death was found to be heart disease, to which he was subject. 

From this time the parish was attended until December, 1875, 
by Father Wibbe, then of St. Peter's, Oswego, N. Y. Then until 
the following spring by Rev. A. Weber, when Father Maurus, 0. 
S. B., came again as resident pastor. Father Maurus remained 
mitil the summer of 1880, when he was given charge of Schenec- 
tady, whence after a short time, on account of illness, he retired 
to Greenpoint, Long Island, where he died. 

August 15, 1880, brought Rev. Joseph Pickl to Manlius as pas- 
tor. In the following year. May 27, the church edifice was de- 
stroyed by fire. As from the very beginning of this parish the 
old-style trustee system proved again at this time the cause of 
great dissension. The right to transact the business between the 
insurance companies and the parish, in settling the amount to be 



132 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

paid, was claimed by two sets of trustees. The insurance com- 
panies refused to transact business on such a basis ; hence the one 
faction of trustees immediately instituted a lawsuit against the 
companies, but gained nothing, only making an unnecessary ex- 
pense of $81.50 as lawyer's fees. Affairs were constantly grow- 
ing worse, the parish dividing into factions, so that Father Pickl 
was removed to St. Joseph's, Syracuse, thereby leaving the parish 
without a pastor. Father Wibbe again made several visits to 
Manlius, saying Mass in the parish school. Then came Rev. 
Francis M. Neubauer, 0. M. C, who was then Secretary and 
Assistant Provincial 0. M. C, as well as Master of Novices in the 
Convent, Syracuse. After a while he found it advisable to insti- 
tute a mission, which he himself conducted about May, 1882. 
Meanwhile he strove to settle the matters concerning the insur- 
ance. His advice in this was heeded. The trustees of both fac- 
tions resigned their actual or pretended rights and at a special 
meeting of the parish, new trustees were elected and Father 
Francis was empowered to make a settlement with the insurance 
companies. As settlement $2,480.63 was received, which sum was 
handed over to the trustees on June 5, 1882. 

About June 11, 1882, Rev. Joseph Resch was sent to Manlius 
as pastor. He immediately set about to have the congregation 
build a new church. Father Resch, with Joseph E. Greiner, 
George Haar and Frank Sutter called upon the people for sub- 
scriptions, which were signed in the form of a three months' 
promissory note. The full amount so subscribed and later col- 
lected amounted to $3,736. On Sunday, September 10, 1882, the 
cornerstone of the new church was laid by Father Francis, 0. M. 
C. February 2, 1883, the church had so far neared completion 
that two new bells were blessed by the Very Rev. Patrick A. Lud- 
den, who was then Vicar General of Albany. The church having 
been completely finished and frescoed, was on May 3, 1883, blessed 
by Rt. Rev. Francis McNierney, Bishop of Albany, several priests 
being in attendance. After the dedication the Bishop confirmed 
a class of twenty-five boys and sixteen girls. The church was 
built for $5,459 by Laubach & Frey, of the parish. 

May 13, 1883, Rev. Francis Koch, 0. S. F., of Paterson, N. J., 
opened a mission, closing it May 21, by it bringing back a num- 
ber to their duty. 



MINOA. 133 

It would seem that all these efforts should have brought peace 
to Manlius, but this appears not to have been effected. Dissatis- 
faction again was expressed. The church had been built and 
completed, dedicated and put in use: but many who had sub- 
scribed toward this now refused to pay their subscriptions unless, 
as it was expressed, the property be in their hands. It was 
planned to incorporate. Petitions were drawn up ; one, to follow 
the Diocesan Statutes and have a corporation according to the 
Statutes of the State of New York ( Sect. 50 of the Religious Cor- 
poration Law), whereby, as the petition reads, "the Trustees 
.... shall be the R. C. Bishop and Vicar General of the Diocese, 
the Pastor of said Congregation and two Laymen, members of 
said congregation and appointed by the said Bishop, Vicar Gen- 
eral and Pastor or a majority of them. ' ' The other petition was 
to incorporate in such a way that the power "shall vest in a re- 
ligious corporation the Trustees of which shall be elected by the 
members of said Congregation. ' ' The first petition received only 
two signatures: that of Franz Kerri and Henry Heifer, whilst 
the second received ninety-four signatures. The reason of this 
latter was that so many of the better element saw that peace 
would not be established unless they in some way agreed with the 
recalcitrants. It was thought by the better element a basis could 
be obtained upon which to work. They expected gradually to 
gain the good will of the disturbers and finally reorganize accord- 
ing to the diocesan statutes. In this they were mistaken, for a 
wrong method was adopted. At the meeting of the parish, after 
the petitions had been signed, full power was laid in the hands 
of two laymen to incorporate and have by-laws drawn up. This 
new church government assisted in collecting the remaining 
amounts of subscriptions, but it gave rise to new and serious 
dissensions, for it placed too much power in the hands of a few. 
Affairs continued to grow worse, so that conflicts arose with the 
pastor. In November, 1883, Father Resch was removed, thereby 
leaving the parish without a resident pastor. Rt. Rev. Bishop 
McNiemey appealed to the Franciscan Fathers, 0. M. C, whose 
Mother-house is in Syracuse, to take charge of Manlius Station. 
This being nearer to their Convent in Syracuse, the Franciscans 
relinquished the mission of Durhamville, N. Y., to accept this 
new charge, which henceforth has become a mission attended 



134 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

from St. Francis ' Convent, Syracuse. It is attended as a regular 
parish by a priest appointed as rector. 

November 24, 1883, Very Rev. Joseph Lesen, D. D., then Pro- 
vincial of the American Province of the Minor Conventuals, him- 
self assumed charge of this mission station, and retained the pas- 
torate until June, 1892. Father Joseph made great efforts to 
gain the good will of the people by first bringing them to attend 
to their religious duties. June of 1886, two new side altars were 
built and donated by Joseph E. Greiner. From June 3rd to 10th, 
1888, a mission was given in English and German by Rev. Father 
Schnitzler, S. J., and proved a success. December 2, 1889, an- 
other acre of land was added to the east end of the cemetery. It 
was purchased for $500 from Robert Shoemaker, and directly 
deeded by him to ''Rt. Rev. Patrick A, Ludden, Bishop of the 
Diocese of Syracuse." October 18, 1891, confirmation was ad- 
ministered by the Rt. Rev. Bishop to forty-eight boys and sixty 
girls. As Provincial of the Franciscans, Father Joseph was often 
obliged to be absent from the parish. During such absence other 
Fathers from the Syracuse Convent attended : Rev. Fathers Naza- 
rene Graziani, Anthony Gehring, Conrad Elison, Leonard Reich 
and John Kroeger. Father Joseph worked zealously for the wel- 
fare of the people, and was by them held in esteem. The finan- 
cial status remained as it was, for the time was inopportune to 
make any change therein. In June, 1892, Father Joseph was 
called by his Superior General to Rome, Italy, where he now is 
Guardian of the Convent of the Holy Apostles. 

About June 7, 1892, Rev. Albert Regensburger, 0. M. C, was 
appointed rector. In January, 1893, Father Albert was ap- 
pointed Master of the Clerical Students in the Convent at Al- 
bany. At this time Very Rev, Francis M. Neubauer, D, D., 0. M. 
C, was Provincial of the Franciscans and as such he took upon 
himself the pastorate of this mission about January 16, 1893. 
He was well known on account of his many visits to this parish 
on former occasions, and was beloved by them. About July, 
1893, he appointed Rev. Bernardino Ludwig, 0. M. C, rector, 

March 16, 1895, a new organ, a voealion, was placed in the 
church. About the middle of November, 1895, Father Bernar- 
dino was sent to Trenton, N. J. November 23, 1895, Rev, Guido 
Epp, 0. M, C, became rector. 



MINOA. 135 

During all the years of the existence of this parish, the finan- 
cial administration was in the hands of the laymen, who would 
have it that the clergy had nothing to say about such affairs. The 
clergy were to plan the ways and means, and execute the same, to 
obtain the funds. The rector was considered only "hired" by 
the trustees, as they expressed it : " Wir hiren Sie f uer noch ein 
Jahr. ' ' Nevertheless, at times the books were in the hands of the 
priest. Very few people attended the meetings of the trustees on 
account of the great dissatisfaction with this system of admins- 
tration. This dissatisfaction often expressed itself in open quar- 
rels, and caused many to remain away from the church. At times 
these trustees interfered with the priests in their spiritual duties, 
by making rules as to who was to be attended by the priest. Many 
of the parish were wishing a change of affairs. Father Guido 
made an attempt in March, 1897, to bring about a final settle- 
ment of this state of affairs; but the time was yet inopportune. 
May 17, 1897, he was transferred to Camden, N. J. 

June 1, 1897, Rev. Jerome Preisser, 0. M. C, took charge of 
Manlius Station or Minoa (as it is known since November 25, 
1895). In course of time he visited the homes of the people, 
taking up the census and a house collection. He then continued 
the move made by Father Guido, and succeeded in reorganizing 
the parish into a new corporation according to the diocesan stat- 
utes and the statutes of the State of New York (Sect. 50 of the 
Religious Corporation Laws). Hereby the board of trustees shall 
consist of the Rt. Rev. Bishop of the Diocese, the Vicar General, 
the pastor and two lay members of the parish appointed by the 
Bishop. December 15, 1897, the instrument of such incorpora- 
tion was filed in the County Clerk's office, and it bears date of 
October 25, 1897, having been duly signed by Rt. Rev. Patrick A. 
Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse, Rt. Rev. Monsignor John J. Ken- 
nedy, Vicar General, Rev. Jerome Preisser, pastor, and Joseph E. 
Greiner and Henry Heifer, the laymen appointed by the Bishop. 
The corporate title of this parish is henceforth known as "St. 
Mary 's Church of Minoa, N. Y. " This practically opens a new 
era for Minoa; and it has been conducive to a new and better 
sentiment amongst the parishioners, causing the dissensions grad- 
ually though slowly to disappear. For a few months Father 
Jerome was absent from Minoa and during his absence Very Rev. 



136 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Leonard Reich, 0. M. C, came as acting pastor. During the 
months of September and October, Rev. Camillus Eichenlaub, 0. 
M. C, attended, after which he was sent to Albany, as professor 
in the Franciscan College. During this time. Father Jerome re- 
mained in Syracuse until his appointment to St. Peter's Church, 
Louisville, Ky., in April of 1899. October 23, 1898, Rev. Wil- 
liam Peberl, O. M. C, received charge and retained it until his 
removal to Camden, N. J., about July 17, 1899, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Peter W. Scharoun, O. M. C, who, November 15, 
was appointed to St. Joseph's, Utica. On this date charge was 
given to Rev. Ferdinand Mayer, D. C. L., O. M. C, which charge 
he held until his removal to Utica, May 22, 1900, to assist Father 
Peter. 

On Ascension Day, 1900, Rev. Otho Recktenwald, 0. M. C, the 
present incumbent, was appointed rector of Minoa. The follow- 
ing spring a census of the parish was taken, showing the parish 
to be composed of 112 families, numbering 498 souls. 

In 1902 extensive repairs and alterations were made in the 
church property and on "Wednesday, December 17, 1902, Rt. Rev. 
Patrick A. Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse, dedicated the church. 
On account of the inconvenience of the railroad accommodations, 
the Bishop and the visiting clergy assembled at St. Matthew's 
rectory East Syracuse, on the morning of that day and proceeded 
thence in carriages to Minoa. On Silver street, at the line divid- 
ing the towns of Manlius and Dewitt they were met by about 
eighteen mounted young men of the parish. These formed an 
escort to conduct the Bishop thence to the church. At 9.45 a. m. 
the Bishop dedicated the church in honor of St. Mary under the 
title of the Assumption, which title it has always borne. 

Before concluding this history of St. Mary's a few words must 
be written about the parish school. Some time in the early 50 's, 
most probably in Father Raffeiner's time, a school was built and 
a teacher procured. At times the school was closed; at other 
times, the priest in charge of the parish taught the school. There 
were some very good and successful teachers, but also some not 
competent as instructors of the children. The school was often 
the bone of contention between the old-style lay trustees and 
their pastors ; the former claiming the right to appoint the teach- 
ers, whilst the latter demanding as pastors this right to decide 



MINOA. 137 

who was to assist them in the education of the children of the 
parish. On account of these many contentions, the school was 
finally closed July 1, 1883. Later, during the administration of 
Father Joseph, 0. M. C, a move was made to reopen the paro- 
chial school with school sisters as teachers, but the opposition was 
too great to put in effect this plan. Again, in the spring of 1901, 
another such move was made, but met with the same results as 
the previous one. It is hoped that at some future date this ob- 
ject of having a parochial school will be attained, for it is an 
established fact that secular and religious training must go hand 
in hand in the education of the child. 



FAYETTEVILLE 

ACCORDING to the testimony of the oldest surviving Cath- 
olics of this section there were but two Catholic families 
in 1840 residing within the limits of this parish, as it now 
stands, comprising the villages of Fayetteville and Manlius. The 
one was John Farrell and family, the other John Murphy and 
family. The former resided in the village of Fayetteville, the 
latter in the village of Manlius. The first Mass is recorded to 
have been celebrated in the house of John Farrell by the Rev. 
Father Cahill of Cazenovia in 1845. This house still stands in 
the lower part of the village and is now occupied by Charles A. 
Hopkins. A short time afterwards Mass was celebrated by the 
Rev. William McCallion in the house of John I\Iurphy of Man- 
lius, corner of Pleasant and Wesley streets, now occupied by a 
Dr. Doyle. The next Catholic to take up his residence within the 
limits of this mission was John Costello, who came here from 
Canada and settled down in ]\Ianlius and worked at the mill there 
at the age of fifteen, in 1841, as his son, John Costello, now of 
Manlius, states. He afterwards became proprietor of the mill 
property and subsequently Mass was celebrated often at his home. 
But it was not until the year 1847, the year of the Irish Exodus, 
that it could be said that Catholicity began in these parts. Thou- 
sands of the exiles of Erin, driven by tyranny from their mother- 
land, crossed the Atlantic on lumber vessels. Some of them 
wended their way to Fayetteville and Manlius and a few of them 
still survive to tell the story. After 1847 priests from Syracuse, 
Cazenovia and North Manlius attended the locality, saying 
Masses at private houses from time to time. 

In 1854 Father Cahill of Cazenovia purchased a lot in the 
southwest part of the village of Fayetteville, corner of Warren 
and Canal streets, in the name of Bishop McCloskey, then the 
ordinary of the diocese. It seems that the stones for the founda- 
tion of a church were drawn on the grounds and a few years 
elapsed without any progress being made towards building. In 
August, 1862, a contract was about to be entered into with Pat- 
rick Cummings of Syracuse for a frame building on the lot pur- 



FAYETTEVILLE. 139 

chased, signed by the following twelve residents of the place, viz. : 
Louis Hueber, John McCarrick, John Sheedy, John O'Brien, 
Patrick Holland, Edward Gaynor, John Shea, John Kennelly, 
Michael Griffin, John Costello, Patrick Bailey and Michael Foley. 
The contract called for the sum of $1,910, the twelve men men- 
tioned above becoming personally liable for that amount within a 
specified time.- That contract was never completed. 

In 1862 the late Dr. O'Hara of Syracuse, who had on a pre- 
vious occasion visited the locality when pastor of St. Patrick's 
Church, Oneida, came here again in the interests of religion and 
informed the people that they must abandon the idea of building 
on the lot purchased by Father Cahill, as it was not a suitable 
site; that he would select a better site and would build, not a 
frame church, but a brick church. In 1864 Dr. O'Hara pur- 
chased the lot on which the little brick church and pastoral resi- 
dence now stand, with money received from the sale of the old 
lot and with what money had been subscribed by the people. On 
this lot stood the famous Eagle Hotel, as the older inhabitants 
well remember. On the lot so purchased brick were hauled for 
the structure, but for some reason or other no steps were taken 
to build. The brick were afterwards sold by Dr. O 'Hara and the 
lot alone remained. 

In 1869 the Rev. James O'Reilly, then a young assistant of 
Father Beecham in Rome, was selected by the Bishop of Albany 
to become the first resident pastor of Fayetteville. He at once, 
with zeal and energy, took a firm grasp of the situation and, unit- 
ing the scattered flock, infused into their hearts some of that en- 
thusiasm which actuated himself. Mass was said in the Hall and 
the reverend pastor took up his residence at the Beard Hotel. In 
the fall of that year, November 25, the corner-stone of the new 
church was laid by the Very Rev. Edgar P. Wadhams, then 
Vicar-General of the Diocese of Albany, afterward Bishop of Og- 
densburg. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the late 
Dr. Keating of Hudson and twenty other clergymen assisted at 
the ceremony. Mass was celebrated for the first time in the new 
church on Christmas Day, 1870, but its interior decoration was 
not completed till the autunm of 1872. It was dedicated under 
the title of the Immaculate Conception by Rt. Rev. Francis Me- 
Neirny on November 26, 1872. The late Father Brady of Caze- 



140 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

novia preached the dedicatory sermon and sixteen other clergy- 
men were present on the occasion. After the dedication, Bishop 
McNeirny administered confirmation to one hundred and eighty- 
five candidates. This was the first time that the Sacrament of 
Confirmation was administered in this mission. The congrega- 
tion then consisted of about 120 families and has not grown to 
any perceptible degree since. 

With such a small number of families the work accomplished 
by the Rev. Father 'Reilly was phenomenal. He not only built 
that neat brick church, but a commodious pastoral residence and, 
what the people of the mission are most proud of, he purchased 
through the late Edward Gaynor a tract of land east of the vil- 
lage for a cemetery, which he so laid out and beautified that in 
the Diocese of Syracuse no country cemetery can compare with it. 

In June, 1892, after twenty-three years of laborious work in 
this part of the Lord's vineyard, he was called upon by his 
Bishop, the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, to assume the charge of a 
larger and more responsible position, the pastorship of St. 
Mary's Church, Clinton, made vacant by the death of his dear 
friend. Father Peter O'Reilly, 

Rev. Patrick Donohoe, who had been acting pastor at Clinton 
for his uncle, the Rev. Peter O'Reilly, was appointed pastor of 
Fayetteville by Bishop Ludden on June 21, 1892, and July 2 as- 
sumed the responsibilities of pastor. Father Donohoe 's name is 
still cherished in Fayetteville and young and old regretted his 
short sojourn in their midst. He left after spending less than a 
year here as pastor to become an assistant to Rev. J. P. Magee of 
St. Patrick's, Syracuse. He is now pastor of St. Mary's, Cort- 
land. 

On the departure of Rev. P. Donohoe, the Rev. Father Early, 
then an assistant of Father Kearney at Fulton, was appointed by 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop on July 4, 1893, to fill the vacancy at Fay- 
etteville. He was a priest full of zeal and piety and many of his 
parishioners were wont to say that had he had his health and 
vigor he would be the means of bringing in to the one fold many 
of the neighboring non-Catholics. He died on May 7, 1894, re- 
gretted by his own flock and by many of those outside. He was 
buried in that lot in the cemetery which Father 'Reilly had re- 



JAMESVILLE. 141 

served for his own remains. It was during his pastorate here 
that the large pipe organ which adorns the church was purchased 
by Thomas W. Sheedy at Syracuse. 

The Rev. Michael Joyce was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
to take charge of this mission immediately after his predecessor's 
death and took charge thereof on June 1, 1894, and is the present 
incumbent. He has paid off the small amounts of mortgage on 
church and cemetery and some floating debts and has made some 
little improvements on church and pastoral residence. 

Father Joyce was born in County Galway, Ireland, and made 
his studies for the priesthood at famous Maynooth. He was or- 
dained June 10, 1876, and became affiliated with the Diocese of 
Syracuse September 28, 1887. He served as assistant priest at 
St. Patrick's, Utica, from that time until October 1 of the follow- 
ing year, when he was assigned to St. Lucy's, Syracuse. After 
two months, December 13, 1888, he was made pastor of St. Pat- 
rick's, Truxton, and served in that capacity until his appoint- 
ment to Fayetteville. 

There are four priests still living who are natives of this mis- 
sion. They are : Rev. Stephen P. Hueber, C. M., now at Perry- 
ville. Mo., son of Louis Hueber of this village, one of the pioneers 
in this community. Father Hueber cherishes a dear affection 
for the little church here and on the occasion of his parents* 
golden jubilee of marriage, some years ago, presented a beautiful 
bell and also some beautiful statues to the church. Father Crib- 
bins, who also joined the priests of the congregation of the mis- 
sion, is now stationed as one of the faculty of Niagara Univer- 
sity. The others are Rev. George S. Mahon, now administering 
to the spiritual wants of the parish at Pompey, and Rev. John 
W. McDermott, the able assistant of Father O'Reilly at Clinton, 
whose father and mother were married by Father O'Reilly here 
in Fayetteville, and where he himself was baptized by Father 
O'Reilly. 



JAMESVILLE 

St. Mary 's, Jamesville, has always been attended from Fayette- 
ville as an out-mission. The first Catholics to settle in the village 
were James McGough and wife, in 1835. These were soon joined 
by other Irish families and from 1840 to 1860 the following 



142 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

named Catholics lived in the vicinity : Patrick Burke, Edmond 
Burke, John Martin, Michael Bowes, Daniel Quinlan, Dennis 
Bowes, Eugene McCarthy, Thomas Bums, Michael McGowan, 
John Carey, Bryan Trainor, Bernard McManomie, Michael How- 
ard, John Brady, J. K. Doyle, Michael Quirk, Andrew Crone, 
Dennis Corcoran, Joseph Mara, James Burke, James McGough, 
Jr., Daniel Miller, Michael Maher, Edward Welch, Jacob Gross, 
James Ryan, James Kennedy and Peter Logan. 

The first Mass was celebrated by Rev. James O'Reilly at the 
residence of Daniel Quinlan in the early part of 1869, The fol- 
lowing named persons assisting: Daniel Quinlan, Callaghan 
McCarthy, Dennis Bowes, Th. Gleason, Peter Cole, Joseph 
Mara, Michael Mara, James McGough, John Crowley, John 
Bums, Edward Welch, Michael McGowan, Dennis Costello, John 
McGough, Edward Cummings, John Carey, Dennis Carey, 
Michael McDonald, Arthur Murphy, Michael Cummings, William 
Bamerick, Jeremiah McCarthy, Mrs. John Bellen, Anna Demp- 
sey, Ellen Bigley, William Lyons and Patrick McGough. 

From 1869 until 1899 Mass was celebrated at the residence of 
Daniel Quinlan and in the public halls of the village, with Father 
O'Reilly as pastor, until 1892, he being succeeded by Rev. Pat- 
rick Donohoe, who was in turn succeeded by Rev. W. J. Early 
and on the latter 's death, the present pastor. Rev. Michael Joyce, 
assumed charge, coming in June, 1894. 

The present church edifice was completed and the first Mass 
celebrated in it on April 16, 1899. The cost of the church prop- 
erty was $3,490, and all indebtedness was discharged January 1, 
1906. 

The following were members of the congregation during the 
erection of the church: Daniel Quinlan, James Ryan, T. B. 
Grace, Dennis Quinlan, Thomas Bryan, John McGough, M. J. 
Bogan, John D. Quinlan, D. J. O'Donnell, William Bamerick, 
S. Birchmeyer, John Coonley, Thomas McCarthy, Mrs. G. Mc- 
Dermott, William Burke, Margaret Costello, James Moran, M. 
Maher, George Ball, J. J. Griffin, Edward Welch, Daniel Miller, 
Dennis Ryan, H. J. Brichmeyer, Patrick Burke, Callaghan Mc- 
Carthy, Timothy Gorman, James Gorman, Dennis F. Bowes, 
Dennis Bowes and Cornelius Halpin. 



CAMILLUS 

CAMILLTJS parish, as originally constituted, comprised a 
large territory which embraced the villages of Skan- 
eateles, Glenside, Otisco, Marcellus, Jordan and Split 
Eock, with headquarters at Camillus. The pioneer missionaries 
came from Syracuse, among whom may be mentioned Fathers 
Heas of old St. Mary's and Hackett of Salina. In their turn 
and season they came regularly, if infrequently. They suffered 
many trials and vicissitudes, not the least of which was active 
and unreasoning prejudice. 

Much of the personal history of priests and pastors officiating 
is not easily accessible. Nearly all were natives of Ireland and 
were educated wholly or chiefly in the Emerald Isle. At inter- 
vals they were aided and supplied by Franciscan Fathers of 
Syracuse, whose names are found on the parochial registers of 
baptisms and marriages. In December, 1852, such had been the 
increase of numbers and the progress of faith that (the then) 
Bishop McCloskey of Albany assigned Rev. William McCallion 
to the care of the new parish. Father McCallion, bom and edu- 
cated in Ireland, after a brief service as an assistant in the Al- 
bany Diocese, began here his pastoral labors. December 24, 1852, 
he baptized John, son of Martin Haley and Bridget Gallagher. 
January 9, 1853, he united in marriage Bernard Powell and Ann 
McLaughlin. In March, 1853, he baptized fifteen infants. In 
January, 1854, he united nine couples in marriage. 

After a laborious pastorate of twelve years Father McCallion 
resigned, leaving behind signal evidence of work well done. To 
him succeeded, temporarily, Eev. Joseph Butler, 0. M. C, who 
faithfully served the parish for a little less than a year. In July, 
1865, Rev. F. J. Purcell was made pastor, being assisted by Rev. 
Eugene Carroll. Father Purcell entered upon his charge with 
characteristic zeal and prudence. He built churches at Otisco, 
Marcellus and Skaneateles, and provided for a place of worship 
at Camillus. First he purchased the property now on the Casler 
place and, later, selling that, bought the land on which St. Jo- 



144 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

seph's Church is now standing. He occupied a house then on 
the premises, and still there. Transferred in March, 1867, to 
Skaneateles, following a division of the parish, he afterwards 
built the church now occupied at Glenside. 

Rev. William Carroll, born and educated in Ireland, succeeded 
Father Purcell here. With him for some time was associated his 
brother. Rev. Eugene Carroll. Notable in his pastorate was the 
building of the churches in Camillus and at Jordan. At Jordan, 
in 1856, the Daggett property on Hamilton street, was purchased 
and, still later, the Sperry property adjoining — the united par- 
cels measuring four and three-fourths acres. On this property 
the present substantial frame church was erected. At Camillus 
he erected a brick church at much cost, which is well-appointed 
and substantial. Resigning in August, 1870, he served for a time 
at St. Joseph's Church, Albany, where he finished his earthly 
labors. Thence came Rev. P. F. Smith, born and educated in 
Ireland, who, after a brief and satisfactory pastorate, was trans- 
ferred, first, to Geddes, and after to Hudson, where he died after 
a long and successful career in the priesthood. Rev. B. J. Mc- 
Donough followed. Born in Albany and ordained at Troy, serv- 
ing some time as assistant, he began his first pastorate in this 
parish. Laboring here with good results for upwards of three 
years he was made first pastor at Marcellus, going thence to Ball- 
ston Spa, where he is now pastor and enjoying the fruits of his 
years and labors. Rev. J. E. 'Sullivan succeeded Father ]\Ic- 
Donough in the Camillus parish. Born in Kerry County, Ire- 
land, with his parents he came to this country in his childhood. 
He studied at colleges in the States and in Canada. He studied 
theology at Rome, Italy, and at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, 
N. Y., being ordained at Troy in 1874. Serving for a few months 
at Albany, he was appointed pastor at Camillus in the fall of 
that year and continued in that charge until January, 1885, when 
he was removed by his Bishop. 

June 1, 1885, Rev. W. A. Ryan was put in charge of the par- 
ish and continued in his work here until December 12, 1895. 
Father Ryan, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, came, in his 
infancy, with his parents to America. Settling at Geddes, he 
studied in the local schools, going thence to Niagara University 
and thence to St. Joseph's Seminary. Ordained priest at Troy, 



CAMILLUS. 145 

lie was made an assistant at St. John's Church, Albany. From 
Albany he was assigned to St. John's Church, Utica, as assistant 
priest. Trouble developing at Camillus, Bishop McNeirny 
judged that Father K-yan was a suitable priest to meet and bridge 
the difficulty. The peculiar and unsettled conditions of the par- 
ish rendered Father Ryan's task exceedingly onerous and unde- 
sirable; at that time Rev. J. E. O 'Sullivan, still maintaining that 
he was the rightful pastor, retained the keys of the Camillus 
church. Father Ryan paid off a large floating debt at Camillus 
and built and paid for St. Peter 's Church at Split Rock. He was 
an excellent administrator, and solicitous for the spiritual wel- 
fare of his flock. In December, 1895, he was transferred to St. 
Agnes' Church, Utica, where his efficient labors are signally 
manifest. 

To him succeeded Rev. B. A. Stack. Born 1856 in Chenango 
County, N. Y., he studied and taught in the public schools and, 
meanwhile studied law. Going thence to Kansas he studied and 
taught in a Jesuit College. After two years spent at study in 
Canada, he entered St. Joseph's Seminary at Troy. Ordained in 
December, 1889, he was assigned to St. Francis de Sales' Church, 
Utica. Here he labored for six years as assistant to the late Rev. 
L. G. O'Reilly. 

In December, 1895, he was assigned to the Camillus parish, 
where he is now pastor. In October, 1903, St. Peter's Church, 
Split Rock, was added to the new Solvay parish. The once exten- 
sive parish of Camillus now includes only two churches, St. Jo- 
seph's at Camillus and St. Patrick's at Jordan. In recent years 
a gradual emigration to the cities is noted, together with the 
graduated lessening of marriages and births. In consequence the 
parish ha;s fewer families — perhaps 110 at present. 

Among the pioneer families at Camillus may be mentioned the 
Horans, Connors, Bryans, Leddys, Flanigans, Nolans, Meaghers, 
Donohues, Conleys, Moores, Kivalleys, Dwyers, Lawlesses, 
Welches, Hayes, Nolans, Crosses, Delaneys, Dolans, Harrigans, 
Browns, Doyles, Dorans, Ooleys, Reillys, Murphys and Sheas. 

The first Mass was celebrated at Camillus on the T. Kinally 
farm, southwest of the village, and during the construction of 
the Auburn division of the N. Y. C. R. R. Then at the Abrams 
House on LeRoy street. Later in a dwelling now occupied as a 



146 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

cafe by Frederick Bishop. Still later the people attended Mass 
in a bam on the Casler place, improvised for the occasion. 
Thereafter the present church was built and occupied. 



JORDAN 



Mass was first celebrated in the village of Jordan at the Mc- 
Lane house on Hamilton street, southwest of the present church. 
Later services were held at the O'Brien house, which was used 
for worship for a period of seven years, and until the building of 
St. Patrick's Church. During the pastorate of Father Carroll 
the principal families at Jordan, at the time, were the McLanes, 
Guilfoyles, Fitzgeralds, Hunts, Deneens, Quinns, Nandys, Kellys, 
Mahoneys, O'Briens, Ewers, Welchs, Ryans, McCormicks, Bate- 
mans, Powers, Combes, etc. 

Pastors and visiting priests stopped in succession at O'Brien's 
Guilfoyle's and McLane's. Cardinal McCloskey (then Bishop of 
Albany), Bishops Conroy and McNeimy of Albany officiated in 
the parish at intervals, blessing the old cemetery at Jordan, the 
churches at Jordan and Camillus, and confirming large classes of 
children. 

Bishop Ludden of Syracuse blessed the cemetery at Jordan, 
and confirmed large classes of children at Jordan and at Camil- 
lus, where children of Split Rock were at the same time con- 
firmed. 



SKANEATELES 

THE first Mass was said in Skaneateles by the Rev. Michael 
Heas of St. Mary's, Syracuse, in the house of Patrick Mc- 
Cormick, in 1849. There were about ten people in attend- 
ance. Father Heas attended this parish until 1852, when he was 
succeeded by the Rev. William McCallion, who celebrated Mass 
at the home of John McGinnis every fourth Sunday. In 1852, 
$70 was collected to build a church and later the lot was pur- 
chased of Deacon Hall. The church was built in 1854, a frame 
building costing $2,500, and was dedicated by Cardinal McClos- 
key, then Bishop of Albany, September 7, 1856. 

Father McCallion died in 1864, at the home of his brother in 
Rhode Island. The Rev. Joseph Butler, 0. M. C, of Syracuse, 
succeeded Father McCallion. He remained only eleven months. 
Father Butler was succeeded in 1866 by the Rev. Francis J. Pur- 
cell. 

Father Purcell was bom in County Tipperary, Ireland, July 
18, 1830, and educated in Irish schools. He was ordained at Al- 
bany forty-seven years ago and for a few months was an assist- 
ant priest in Carthage and Troy. Later he became assistant 
priest at St. John's Church, Utica, under the Rev. Thomas A. 
Daly. His first work in Skaneateles was to erect a new St. 
Mary's on the site of the building burned on May 23 of the year 
he took charge. His efforts were so successful that the new 
church was dedicated by Bishop Wadhams of Ogdensburg, then 
Vicar-General of the Albany Diocese, June 30, 1867, its erection 
having cost $11,000. 

In 1866 Confirmation was administered by Bishop Conroy in 
this part of the diocese for the first time at Jordan, the present 
church then being under erection. Father Flaherty, pastor of 
the Holy Family Church, Auburn, preached the sermon. Eight 
hundred were confirmed. 

St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery was dedicated Sunday, October 
31, 1867, by the late Rev. Dr. O'Hara of St. Mary's Church, 
Syracuse. 



148 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

St. Mary 's Temperance Society was founded by Father Purcell 
January 7, 1869, and has continued since to exert a most prac- 
tical influence on the people and to-day it is in a most flourishing 
condition. 

The Rev. John V. Simmons, now pastor of St. Paul's, Bing- 
hamton, assisted Father Purcell for a period of six months. The 
Rev. John J. Higgins was appointed assistant pastor June 1, 
1902. 

On July 18, 1905, Father Purcell observed the seventy-fifth 
anniversary of his birth and the forty-fifth of his ordination into 
the priesthood. There was no elaborate displaj^ owing to the 
modesty of the faithful priest, but his parishioners did not allow 
the occasion to pass unregarded. During forty years he had been 
a father to them and their love for him was deep and enduring. 
They regarded him a saint and certainly the work he wrought 
proved his zeal. 

Death came to the venerable priest in the forty-first year of his 
service at St. Mary's, January 18, 1907. The Rev. Thomas J. 
Conway was appointed his successor. Father Higgins becoming 
pastor of St. Patrick's, Truxton, in succession to the new pastor 
of St. Mary's of the Lake. 

Father Conway was ordained in Ireland nine years ago and 
came at once to this diocese. For a while he was assistant priest 
in Norwich and later in Binghamton. He became pastor of St. 
Patrick's, Truxton, in October, 1900, and continued in that ca- 
pacity until his appointment to Skaneateles. 

The parish is made up exclusively of families of Irish and 
Irish descent. 

SKANEATELES FALLS 

St. Bridget's is an Irish congregation and is attended from 
Rev. F. J. Purcell and dedicated Sunday, September 20, 1874, by 
Bishop McNierney of Albany. It cost $5,000. 

St. Bridget's is an Irish congregation and is attended from 
Skaneateles. It, too, has a flourishing total abstinence society, 
founded by Father Purcell, who was a veritable apostle of tem- 
perance, and like the sister society of St. Mary's of the Lake, has 
a handsome hall of its own for meetings and recreation of various 
sorts. 



MARCELLUS 

THE parish of St. Francis Xavier of this village was organ- 
ized with about twenty members in 1854. The first re- 
ligious services leading to the organization of the parish 
were held in 1853, at the home of the late John McNally, who 
then resided in the house above Slate Hill, more recently occupied 
by Thomas Flood. This Mass was celebrated by the Rev. Michael 
Heas, about ten persons being present, of whom one only sur- 
vives, John Kirwin, now 86 years old. 

Marcellus was then a mission field, connected with the Albany 
Diocese, and Father Heas came here from Syracuse, holding 
services under the direction of the Bishop of Albany. From this 
time the congregation began to grow in numbers and strength. 

On the site of the present church was an old tavern, one of the 
earlier buildings of the place, and the young congregation soon 
began to hold services in the second story of this building, finally 
purchasing the lot in 1854, the Rev. William McCallion being the 
pastor at that time. The congregation continued to meet in this 
building for some thirteen or fourteen years, steps being taken 
during this pastorate which later resulted in the erection of the 
present church. The burial ground was purchased of the late 
George Gallup in 1862, by Father McCallion. Father Butler, 
0. M. C, succeeded Father McCallion, being followed shortly by 
Rev. F. J. Pureell, at that time and for many years after pastor 
of the Skaneateles church, which was then still in the same charge 
with Marcellus. Neither he nor his predecessors were residents 
of Marcellus. It was in Father Purcell's time that the present 
commodious church was built, the first subscription being taken 
in 1867, and the church built in 1868, Patrick Cummings of 
Syracuse being the contractor. The building of the church re- 
quired much effort on the part of the small congregation and 
there was for some years an incumbrance, at first $5,000, which 
heavily burdened the congregation. 

Rev. J. J. Hayden, the first resident pastor, was appointed 
February 4, 1873, following the Rev. Father Pureell. He came 



150 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

from St. Mary's Church, Syracuse, where he had been for trwo 
years acting pastor in the absence of the regular pastor. The 
present parsonage property was purchased of Alexander Mather, 
in April, 1873. The Rev. B. J. McDonough was the next pastor, 
coming here from Camillus, October 21, 1874. Under these two 
pastorates the church debt was reduced to $4,000. 

The Rev. Michael P. Renehan succeeded Father McDonough, 
September 21, 1878, coming from Marathon. He was born in 
Cullyhanna, Ireland, July 12, 1837, and took high rank at All 
Hallows College. His pastorate in Marcellus extended over only 
a little more than a year, his death occurring November 17, 1879, 
in Baltimore, Md., in a hospital. The remains were brought here, 
the funeral service being held in the church on Friday, November 
21, 1879, the burial being in St. Francis Xavier's Cemetery. 
The high esteem in which he was held is evidenced by the notable 
gathering in attendance upon the High Mass, which was sung by 
his brother, the Rev. James J. Renehan, and Fathers Caraher 
and Purcell, deacon and sub-deacon, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Mc- 
Neirny of Albany, with his Vicar-General, the Very Rev. Father 
Ludden, now the Right Reverend Bishop of Syracuse, with a 
large concourse of clergy being present. An able sermon was 
preached by Father Hogan, of Trenton, N. J., a life-long friend 
of the deceased. 

On the day of Rev. Michael P. Renehan 's funeral, the appoint- 
ment was made by the Bishop of Albany of his brother, the Rev. 
James J. Renehan, who has now served this church since Novem- 
ber 24, 1879. During his pastorate the remainder of the debt on 
the church, $2,000, has been paid and the church three times re- 
paired at a cost of $2,500, also the debt of $2,100 on the house has 
been reduced to $1,000. 

A young and flourishing congregation, numbering about 750, 
mostly of Irish parentage, has grown up during Father Rene- 
han 's pastorate, and the church is, at present, in a most flourish- 
ing condition, financially, socially and spiritually. 



BALDWINSVILLE 

LITTLE is known of the history of Catholicity in Baldwins- 
ville previous to the year 1847. That there were Catholics 
here, in the early part of the century, is certain; but we 
have no record of their names or their number. The few who 
were here were obliged to go to Syracuse to attend Mass, as there 
was not even a mission station, until the Eev. Joseph Guerdet 
came in 1848. He said his first Mass in the house of the late Mrs. 
Catherine McCabe, corner of Water and Syracuse streets. Twenty 
souls were present. He continued his visits every three or four 
weeks for about two years, when he was succeeded by the Rev. 
Father Hackett of Salina. At the close of his first service, Father 
Guerdet addressed his little flock, expressing his joy that it had 
been his privilege to offer the holy sacrifice of the Mass for the 
first time in their village. He told them how happy he would be 
if he could establish a parish in their midst. The second time he 
came he found their number much increased and rented a build- 
ing at the corner of Water and Canton streets (then known as the 
band room), which was fitted up by willing hands for the accom- 
modation of the little congregation who assembled from near and 
far. 

As his flock increased Father Hackett often came on week days 
to officiate at great inconvenience to himself and to his congrega- 
tion at home, who needed his constant services. Father Mullady, 
who was then residing with Father Hackett, also came here for a 
short time. He was succeeded by the Eev. William McCallion, 
afterwards pastor of Camillus and the neighboring missions. 
Father McCallion secured the ground where the present church 
stands. After a short time, on account of increasing duties at 
home, he was obliged to discontinue his visits to Baldwinsville. 

The saintly Father Smith of Fulton was appointed his suc- 
cessor by the late Cardinal McCloskey, then Bishop of Albany. 
He came here every month to say Mass. Seeing the necessity of a 
church, he began on the site already secured the erection of St. 
Mary's Church — the congregation digging the foundation, draw- 
ing the stone, and doing everything to help on the good work. 



152 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

After the dedication of the church by Bishop McCloskey, the 
Rev. P. F. Smith was appointed the first resident pastor March 1, 
1867. 

Finding no parochial house, Father Smith commenced the erec- 
tion of the present parsonage and in a short time had it com- 
pleted. The Pendergast family furnished the lumber, which was 
cut down and drawn by the congregation. Father Smith re- 
mained pastor until June 20, 1869, when he was succeeded by 
Rev. P. B. McNulty, who remained until December, 1871. 

Rev. D. J. O'Keefe, the next pastor, came here December 17, 
1871, and remained until May, 1873, when he was obliged to re- 
tire on account of failing health. He went to St. Joseph's Hos- 
pital, Syracuse, where he died a holy death a few weeks after. 
His remains were taken to Troy, where they rest with those of his 
family. After the death of Father O'Keefe came Rev. J. S. M. 
Lynch, now Monsignor Lynch, pastor of St. John's Church, 
Utica. Father Lynch by his zeal and eloquence infused new life 
into the people who were grieved much when they heard that he 
had been appointed director and professor in St. Joseph's Pro- 
vincial Seminary, Troy, N. Y., April, 1875. Next came Father 
Francis, — a name familiar to nearly all the congregation. He 
remained until called to his reward in 1880. He is buried 
amongst his people in St. Mary's Cemetery. His grave is orna- 
mented by a beautiful monument, erected by the A. 0. H., to his 
memory and to that of the late Father Bayard. During the last 
few months of his life, he was assisted by the Rev. Francis I. 
Hainault, now the esteemed pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Ta- 
berg. 

After the death of Father Francis, Rev. Edward Bayard be- 
came pastor, and remained until the spring of 1882, when, owing 
to ill health, he was obliged to give up work. He went South in 
the hope that a milder climate might prove beneficial. A few 
days after his arrival he was taken suddenly ill and was tenderly 
eared for by the family with whom he was stopping. One day 
two Sisters of Charity, hearing that a priest was sick amongst 
strangers, called to see him. One of the Sisters recognized in 
the sick man her own dear brother. Father Bayard died in 
Tampa, where beneath the shade of an orange tree he sleeps the 
long last sleep, gratefully remembered by his congregation as an 
earnest, courteous and kind-hearted priest. 



BALDWINSVILLE. 153 

The next pastor was the Rev. James A. Kelley, who remained 
■until March 1, 1886, when he was transferred to St. Patrick's 
Church, Oneida. Father Kelly, during his pastorate, enlarged 
and beautified St. Mary's Church. 

The Rev. Patrick H. Beecham came to the parish March 1, 
1886. In a few years he had succeeded in removing the entire 
church debt. He later purchased an adjoining plot of ground, 
added to the church, rebuilt and beautified the church, erecting 
an altar and stations in keeping with the improved interior, and 
installing a suitable organ. He also enlarged the parochial resi- 
dence. 

Father Beecham was a nephew of the Rev. William Beecham, 
who was for forty years the pastor of St. Peter's Church, Rome, 
this diocese. Born in Ireland, he went to Rome in 1868 at the 
solicitation of his venerable uncle and entered St. Joseph 's Semi- 
nary, Troy, in the fall of the same year. He labored in St. 
Mary's parish earnestly and successfully for a period of nearly 
twenty years and when death came on February 7, 1905, he was 
mourned by his flock as a father is mourned by the members of a 
devoted family. 

The Rev. John A. McGraw, now pastor of St. Mary's, received 
his appointment on his return to the diocese after a residence of 
two years in the Eternal City, where after special courses in the 
College Appolonari he received the degrees, doctor of canon law 
and doctor of sacred theology. Doctor McGraw is a Geddes boy, 
the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Philip McGraw. The Rev. James 
P. McGraw, S. T. L., Chancellor of the diocese, is a brother. 
Father McGraw made his theological studies at St. Joseph's 
Seminary, Troy, and was ordained priest in 1896. He served at 
St. John the Evangelist Church, Syracuse, as assistant priest 
from the date of his ordination until his departure for Rome. 

The parish now numbers more than a thousand souls and con- 
tinues to grow in numbers and influence. The nucleus of a paro- 
chial school fund was left by Father Beecham, who, by will, pro- 
vided that the sum of $5,000 be set aside for that purpose. 

St. Stephen's parish. Phoenix, was attended by the pastor of 
Baldwinsville from 1851 until 1907, when it was given in charge 
of the pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Ful- 
ton. 



TULLY 

THE present parish of St. Leo 's embraces the former stations 
of Preble, Apulia and Tully, and includes the town of 
Preble and a part of the towns of Fabius and Tully. The 
first Catholics to live in Preble were Edward Dobbins, who came 
here about 1844, and the Kellys, Fitzpatricks, Daleys, Longs, ]\Ic- 
Cormicks, Fannings and Ryans, who came about 1850. 

It is probable that Mass was celebrated for the first time in 
Preble village by Rev. Bernard McCabe on January 1, 1853, in 
the house then occupied by Edward Kelly, and located on the 
present site of the Grange Hall. Thomas Long, the grandfather 
of James and Richard Long, now of St. Leo 's parish, who resided 
at this time in Tully village, took a sleighload including his wife, 
his son Thomas and Miss Ellen Buckley, the present Mrs. Matthew 
Hennessy, from Tully that they might assist at this Mass. Father 
]\TcCabe celebrated Mass again at Edward Kelly's home in the 
spring of 1854, which Mass was attended among others by Mrs. 
Donivan and Ellen Buckley, who had walked together on the un- 
completed Lackawanna railroad from Tully. The server of this 
Mass was Michael Bogan. 

On January 1, 1855, Rev. William McCallion, the nephew of 
Father McCabe, who was then pastor of Camillus, celebrated 
Mass at Edward Kelly's, where the first Mass was said, having 
spent the previous night at the home of John Long, the father of 
the present Lawrence and John Long of this parish, who lived 
one and one-half miles northwest of Preble village. Mass was 
also said in the early fifties at the home of Daniel Long in the 
western part of Preble village ; at the home of Peter McCormick, 
one and one-half miles north of Preble village ; and in the house 
then occupied by Timothy Fitzpatrick and which was situated 
but a few rods from where the Lackawanna station now stands. 
This last named house, which is now owned and occupied by John 
Dwyer, continued to be used for holding stations until about 
1892. For about two or three years following Mass was cele- 
brated at the home of Michael McCallen in the eastern part of 



TULLY. 155 

Preble village. From this time until about 1901 it was again 
said at John Dwyer's. In December, 1868, Rev. Bartholomew 
McLoghlin celebrated Mass at Patrick Daly's home on Preble 
Hill, and afterward went to the present home of Matthew Hen- 
nessy, where he baptized Nellie, daughter of Matthew Hennessy 
on the following day. Mass was celebrated at William Carver's 
on Preble Hill about 1875, and perhaps at other places, as con- 
venience was the regulator as to when and where Mass was to be 
said. In these early days the people of Preble and vicinity also 
attended Mass in Wheeler Hall in Homer and in Groton. 

For about two years, during the earlier part of Father Doody's 
pastorate in TuUy, he celebrated Mass in Preble every sixth Sun- 
day. As a rule Mass was said on a week day, as the priests had 
regular charges which demanded their attention on Sundays. 
Prior to 1864 Preble was not claimed or attended by any particu- 
lar priest. 

As we learn from the baptismal records, Rev. Patrick Brady 
came to Cortland in January, 1862, and Rev. James McDermott 
came there in May, 1864, and perhaps they came to Preble. 
From this time until July, 1891, Preble was attended successively 
or simultaneously from Cortland by the Revs. Edward Coleman, 
Bartholomew McLoghlin, Thomas McLoghlin and John J. Mc- 
Loghlin, 

The first children of whom we know, to be baptized in Preble, 
were John Kelly, Mary Ryan and Mary Kelly. The first Catho- 
lics to be married in Preble, or at least while making this place 
their home, were Edward Kelly to Hanora Long; Edward Ryan 
to Johanna Long; and Daniel Long to Elizabeth Baty; which 
nuptials took place in 1851 or 1852. John Long and Mary Con- 
nors, the father and mother of Lawrence and John Long, now of 
St. Leo 's parish, were married October 29, 1854. The first Cath- 
olic to die in the town of Preble was Edward Dobbins, the grand- 
father of Mrs. Patrick McCormick, now of Tully. His death oc- 
curred about 1845, and he was buried in Syracuse. 

The first Catholics to live in Apulia of which we have any 
record, were the families of John Ryan, Perry Grace, John 
Lahon, the Hickeys and the Boyles. These people came here 
about 1852. The first of these early settlers to be claimed hy 
death was John Ryan, the father of Mrs. Mary Hennessy, now of 



156 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Tully, who departed this life on November 27, 1855. His funeral 
was held in Syracuse and interment was made there in St. Mary 's 
Cemetery. 

In order that they might assist at the holy sacrifice of the Mass 
and also comply with their other religious obligations, these good 
people were accustomed to go to Syracuse, often walking the en- 
tire distance while fasting. When seriously ill they were visited 
and the sacraments administered to them by Rev. Father Heas of 
Syracuse or Revs. Roach, McCabe, McCallion, Cahill, Roney, 
Brady or Corney. 

The Catholic families that came to Apulia in the early sixties 
were those of Michael Tobin, Patrick Kelly, Bernard O'Donnell 
and Edward Kearney. Matthew Hennessy moved from Tully to 
his present home in 1866. From the time that Cortland became 
the home of a resident pastor in 1864 until 1887, the spiritual 
wants of the people were attended from that place. 

While Mass may have been celebrated in the vicinity of Apulia 
at an earlier date, the first of which we have any knowledge, was 
said at the present home of Matthew Hennessy, an uncle of 
Father Hennessy, now of Syracuse, by Rev. Bartholomew Mc- 
Loghlin, in March, 1871, on which occasion he also baptized 
Maurice Hennessy. There were only a few people present at this 
Mass, as the priest came unexpectedly. Ambrose Winters, the 
uncle of John and William Winters, now of Tully, served this 
Mass. The first Mass at Apulia Station was celebrated by Rev. 
Michael O'Reilly of Pompey Hill in the spring of 1887 at the 
home of Michael Dwyer, there being about forty-five persons 
present. Father Michael, or Myles O 'Reilly, as he was generally 
known, continued to hold stations at this house about four times 
a year until the summer of 1891, being assisted from January 19, 
1888, by the Rev. John V. Simmons. 

The Catholic families living in the village and vicinity at this 
time were those of Michael Dwyre, T. H. Finnell, William Hol- 
leran, Matthew Hennessy, William Kelly, John H. Gorman, Mar- 
tin Finn and Thomas Gorman. The first couple to be married 
from Apulia were Michael Dwyer and Catherine Cull, the par- 
ents of Mrs. L. Nugent, the present organist of St. Leo 's Church. 
The ceremony took place in Syracuse in 1862. 

The first Catholic resident of Tully was Mrs. Patrick Donivan, 



TULLY. 157 

who came here about 1848. Some time afterward she was joined 
by her husband from Canada and they began housekeeping in a 
home purchased from H. T. King. Other Catholic families, com- 
ing shortly after the Donivans, were those of Thomas Long, 
Daniel Ryan, John Lahon, Timothy and Peter Fitzpatrick, 
Philip Mitten, William Conway, Timothy Gantley, Timothy 
Meara, and Patrick Caton, and during the next ten years came 
the Ryans, Sheas, Norris, 'Herins and Welchs. 

Though it may seem somewhat strange, we can find no account 
of Mass having been celebrated in the vicinity of Tully prior to 
the summer of 1865, when Rev. Edward Coleman officiated at 
the home of John Lahon, near Green Lake. Father Coleman also 
celebrated Mass shortly afterwards at the home of John Norris, 
who then lived but a few rods northeast of the present St. Leo's 
Cemetery. Father Coleman was the first resident pastor of Cort- 
land and held this charge from 1864 until the fall of 1867, when 
he was succeeded by the Rev. Bartholomew McLoghlin. 

Shortly after accepting the pastorate of Cortland, Father Mc- 
Loghlin began holding stations in Tully about twice a year, which 
he continued until the time of his death, which occurred on No- 
vember 21, 1888. The stations were generally held at the home 
of Mrs. Patrick Donivan. This house, though moved, is still 
standing in the southern part of the village and was recently sold 
by Hugh Graham to George Dennis, who now occupies it. Father 
Bartholomew said Mass in August, 1878, at the home of Joseph 
Winters, father of John and William Winters, who then resided 
at the east end of Onondaga street. He also said Mass under a 
tree at Mrs. Donivan 's. From 1877 to 1884, Father Bartholomew 
was assisted by his nephew, the Rev. Thomas McLoghlin, now of 
Whitehall, N. Y., who also said Mass at Mrs. Donivan 's. From 
1884 he was assisted by another nephew, the Rev. John J. Mc- 
Loghlin, who, becoming pastor of Cortland after the death of his 
uncle, continued to hold stations at Mrs. Donivan 's and a few 
times at Mrs. Mary Hennessy's on East Main street, until the 
advent of the first resident pastor. In the winter of 1868, Rev. 
Father Carroll, being detained for a few days by a severe storm, 
said Mass in the house of Thomas Long, which was located where 
the present Empire Hotel stands in Tully village. When Father 
Bartholomew McLoghlin began coming to Tully there were about 



158 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

twenty-five families and about twenty-five unmarried people who 
lived within a radius of five or six miles and attended the various 
stations held here. 

On June 28, 1891, Rev. Daniel Doody was appointed by Bishop 
Ludden as first resident pastor of Tully, with Otisco as an out- 
mission and with Preble and Apulia as stations. Father Doody 
arrived in Tully on July 9, 1891, and said his first Mass there in 
the hall of the Disciple Church on the following Sunday, July 12. 
Among: those present were the families of Michael Mara, John 
Lahon, Hugh Graham, Mrs. Mary Hennessy, Matthew Hennessy, 
Michael Dwyre, John W. Gorman, Thomas Gorman, William 
Kelly, Patrick McCormick, James Lillis, David Sheehan, Joseph 
Winters, Maurice Hennessy, Michael Welch, John Shea, Timothy 
Shea, Charles Curtin, Sr., Patrick Cahill, T. H. Fennell, Martin 
Finn, Timothy Finlan, A. Devereaux, William Carver, Mr. 
Sheedy, Mrs. Mary Long, John Long, Patrick Donovan, ]\Iartin 
Long, Mathew Tracey, Patrick Doody and a number of people 
from Tully Lake Park, among them being the O'Briens and the 
Tituses. Miss Julia Allen, who is now following the musical pro- 
fession in Dresden, Germany, presided at the organ. Daniel and 
William O'Brien served the Mass. Services were held regularly 
in the Disciple Hall for about two months, after which time they 
were held in Earle Hall until the completion of the new church. 

St. Leo 's Church was incorporated and recorded in the County 
Clerk's office in Syracuse on May 17, 1892, the first lay trustees 
being Michael Meara and John Lahon. During the same month 
the present site of the church and house was purchased from 
Martin Vail, for the sum of $600. The judicious efforts of 
Father Doody, assisted by a willing and generous people, soon 
made possible the present church. The basement was built by 
Patrick Lane of Syracuse during the latter part of 1892 and the 
superstructure was erected during the early part of 1893, the 
carpenter work being done by Joseph McCormick of Pompey. 
The cost of the church, including the furnishings, was about 
$4,000, one-half of which had been paid by the time the building 
was completed. 

The first Mass in St. Leo's Church was celebrated by Father 
Doody on Palm Sunday, March 26, 1893. The church was dedi- 
cated on Tuesday, July 25, 1893, by Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D. 



TULLY. 159 

The celebrant of the Mass on this occasion was the Eev. F. J. 
Quinn of East Syracuse, with Rev. P. Donohoe of Syracuse as 
deacon and Rev. John V. Simmons of Pompey as sub-deacon, and 
Rev. James A. Kelley of Oneida as master of ceremonies. The 
altar boys were Adrian Meara and William Sheehan of TuUy, 
and Daniel and William O'Brien of Syracuse. Rev. J. J. Mc- 
Loghlin of Cortland preached the dedication sermon. 

The first child born of Catholic parents in Tully, concerning 
whom we know, was Thomas, Jr., son of Thomas Long, Sr., in 
March, 1853, he being taken to Pompey for baptism. In 1856, 
Ellen, daughter of the present John Shea of Tully, was born near 
the present Solvay gate-house and was baptized in St. Mary's 
Church, Syracuse, by Father Heas. The first child baptized by 
Father Doody in Tully and the only one in the Disciple Hall, was 
Mary, daughter of Martin Long, on August 30, 1891. The first 
person baptized in St. Leo's Church was Francis, son of John 
Cashell. The first person married from this vicinity was John 
Shea in the year 1855, at Camillus, by Rev. William McCallion. 
The first marriage to be celebrated in St. Leo's Church was that 
of William Collins to Mary Gorman on October 2, 1894. 

Confirmation was administered for the first time in St. Leo's 
Church on October 24, 1893, by Bishop Ludden, to a joint class 
from this parish and the out-mission, numbering 145. On June 
29, 1898, Rt. Key. Bishop Ludden administered confirmation in 
St. Patrick's Church, Otisco, to a class of 114, which was made 
up in part of the children from this parish ; and again in St. 
Leo's Church on October 4, 1904, to a like joint class of 87. 

After a very successful pastorate of over four years, Father 
Doody was succeeded on October 20, 1895, by Rev. John F. Mc- 
Loghlin. Assuming his first pastorate. Father McLoghlin worked 
zealously among his people and added to the beauty and extent of 
the property by frescoing the church, by erecting and paying for 
a new rectory at a cost of $2,000, by laying cement walks and 
by reducing the church debt $600. 

In 1898 two and one half acres of land lying one and one-half 
miles south of Tully village were purchased from Martin Vail 
for a cemetery at a cost of $300, which amount was paid in a 
short time. The first bodies to be interred in St. Leo 's Cemetery 
were those of Mrs. Mary McCormick, mother of the late Patrick 



160 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

McCormick, and of Timothy Finlan, son of Timothy Finlan, Sr. 
These bodies had been temporarily buried in the Tully Cemetery. 
The first Catholic who died in Tully was Miss Mary Fitzpatrick, 
daughter of Timothy Fitzpatrick, then of Preble, about the year 
1855. Her funeral was held in Syracuse from old St. Mary's 
Church and she was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery. The first 
funeral in St. Leo's Church was that of Miss Mary Hennessy, 
daughter of Mrs. Mary Hennessy, which was held on April 10, 
1893. Before the purchase of St. Leo's Cemetery was made the 
Catholics interred their dead in Syracuse and later in Cortland, 
Truxton and Otisco. 

The present pastor, Rev. John V. Byrne, took charge June 1, 
1901. Father Byrne was born in the town of Pompey on Sep- 
tember 15, 1867, of Lawrence and Jane Byrne. In the following 
spring the family moved to the towTi of Onondaga, where Mr. 
Byrne had purchased a farm lying two miles east of Onondaga 
Valley. Here Father Byrne spent his boyhood days, his early 
education being received at the district school. During the school 
year of 1881 and 1882 he studied at the Onondaga Academy in 
Onondaga Valley. The following year he entered Niagara Uni- 
versity, where he made his entire collegiate and seminary courses, 
receiving the degree of Master of Arts and later being ordained 
to the holy priesthood on May 19, 1894. This same month he re- 
ceived a temporary appointment as assistant at St. Patrick's 
Church, Binghamton. In September of the same year he was 
sent as an assistant to St. Lucy's Church, Syracuse. During the 
summer of 1895 he filled a temporary vacancy as assistant at St. 
John the Evangelist's Church, Syracuse, after which he again 
returned to St. Lucy's, where he remained until his appointment 
to St. Leo's Church, Tully, and St. Patrick's Church, Otisco. 
During Father Byrne's pastorate he has added to the property 
by the erection of a barn and an icehouse at a cost of about $800, 
and by house decorations and improvements costing about $250, 
and by cemetery improvements to the extent of $150. The pres- 
ent trustees are M. Meara and Hugh Graham, the latter having 
been chosen to fill the vacancy which was created by the resigna- 
tion of ]\Tr. Lahon in 1898. 

Since Tully became the home of a resident pastor Mass has 
lieen celebrated here every Sunday when the roads would permit 



OTISCO. 161 

of a service here and in Otiseo or Preble on the same day, and 
every second Sunday for the few remaining months. 

When the first resident pastor came to Tully, there were about 
twenty-five Catholic families, with no church property. To-day 
there are about eighty families with a property valued at about 
$8,000, with an encumbrance of about $1,000. The people are 
nearly all of Irish origin. The present parish is made up largely 
of the first generation of Irish- Americans, and their young fami- 
lies. Some of them were born here, while others, being attracted 
by the excellent opportunities given in farming, have come from 
the near-by towns. 



OTISCO 



The Catholic mission of Otiseo, which place derives its name 
from a beautiful squaw of the Onondagas, embraces the town of 
Otiseo and a portion of the towns of Tully, Onondaga and Spaf- 
ford. The placid Otiseo Lake, set like a gem between the hills, 
together with a rolling, fertile soil, makes this section one of the 
most beautiful and prosperous in the State. Agriculture and 
grazing are the exclusive industries of the inhabitants. 

Though there is a tradition that the Jesuit Fathers encamped 
on the shores of Otiseo Lake many years previous, we have no 
definite knowledge of the existence of Catholicity in this section 
prior to 1850. These first Catholics not only found themselves in 
a strange land, but also far removed from the source of their 
most cherished comfort, their Church. In order to attend Mass 
and to fulfill their other religious duties, for the first three years 
they were obliged to go to Syracuse. John Shea, now of St. Leo 's 
parish, about twice a year, drove the Longs, Flanigans, Tobins 
and William Donovan with him to Syracuse. It was their custom 
to go on the eves of Christmas and Easter and remain until after 
Mass on the following Feasts. 

The first Mass of which we have any definite knowledge was 
said in the summer of 1853 by Eev. Michael Hackett, who lived 
at this time in Salina and who was the uncle of John Hackett, 
who recently moved from this parish to the parish of Marcellus. 
This mass was said in a house which is still standing just north 
of Lester Judson's store at Otiseo Center, which was occupied by 



162 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Michael Flanigan and his family. The Catholics who were living 
in the present limits of St. Patrick's parish at this time were the 
families of John Leamy, Daniel Leamy, Michael Flannigan, Den- 
nis, James and Robert McAvoy, John Long, Richard Tobin, Peter 
Cassidy, Nicholas Cotter and Thomas Dwyer. The unmarried 
men were George Fitzpatrick, John Flannigan, William Flan- 
nigan, John Kinney, Timothy and John McCarthy, John, Corne- 
lius and William Tobin, James Kennedy, James Ryan, James 
Fox, John Shea, William Gantley, John Cummings, Christopher 
and William Sheridan, James and John Wall, William Donovan 
and Michael McCarthy. The priest coming unexpectedly, how- 
ever, there were only sixteen men present at the first Mass. 
These, as far as we can learn, were: William Donovan, John 
Long, William, John and Michael Flannigan, Jr., Michael Flan- 
nigan, Sr., John Leamy, George Fitzgerald, Robert McAvoy, 
Richard, Cornelius and William Tobin, Nicholas Cotter, William 
Gantley, James Kennedy and James Wall. Michael Leamy, now 
of Tully, was there as a boy of eight years. The next time that 
Mass was celebrated here there was a better attendance. 

Among the Catholics who came here during the following ten 
years we find the Larkins, Cains, McAuliffes, Kellys, Nolans, 
Ryans, Keef¥es, Sheas, Mearas, Sullivans, Dwyers, Morrisseys, 
Lanes, Pendergasts, O'Connells, Fitzpatricks, Sheridans, Robert 
and Henry Bradley, John Norris, Edward Murphy, John and 
Garrett Murphy, and still later the Doolans and Mahans. 

Father Hackett celebrated Mass only two or three times in 
Otiseo, when he was followed by Father Hennessy, who also said 
Mass here but two or three times, when he was succeeded by Rev. 
William McCallion, who had been appointed first pastor of Ca- 
millus in December, 1852, and given charge of the outlying mis- 
sions of Marcellus and Skaneateles, and later of Otiseo. Father 
McCallion continued to hold services in Otiseo three or four times 
a year until July, 1864, when Rev. Joseph Butler, O. M. C, be- 
coming temporary pastor of Camillus, took charge of this mis- 
sion. During the earlier years of Father McCallion 's adminis- 
tration he said Mass at the homes of Michael Flannigan, John 
Kinney, Nicholas Cotter, James Kennedy or John Flannigan, ac- 
cording to convenience or circumstances. From about 1856 to 
1860 Mass was said only at the home of John Flannigan, In 



OTISCO. 163 

1860 Father McCallion purchased this house, with the barn and 
accompanying land, for about $500. The house remained un- 
changed, however, until 1866, when some of the partitions were 
removed. In this condition it continued to be used for church 
purposes until after the erection of the first church, when it was 
taken down. John Flannigan continued to live in this house 
until 1865, from which time until 1872 it was occupied by 
Michael Keeffe. The newly acquired property was also intended 
for a cemetery, and in the spring of 1863 the body of Mrs. Nich- 
olas Cotter was interred here and shortly after the body of Mrs. 
Christopher Sheridan. Later, however, these bodies were re- 
moved to St. Mary's Cemetery in Syracuse. 

The first Mass and those said during the earlier years were 
served by Nicholas Cotter, he being perhaps the best educated 
among the earlier settlers. Michael Ryan came to Otisco with his 
family in 1857, and from that time until the fall of 1865 served 
the various Masses said here. From 1865 until 1872 Mass was 
generally served by Michael Keeffe. From this time until re- 
cently, when there were no altar boys present, Michael Ryan was 
always ready to wait on the priest with the same alacrity and 
willingness as in the earlier days. 

Father Butler remained in charge of Otisco for only ten 
months, during which time he said Mass here but once. He was 
succeeded in 1865 by Rev. F. J. Purcell of Skaneateles. In the 
spring of 1871 Father Purcell decided that the time had arrived 
when his little charge, which was steadily increasing, should have 
a more fitting place for worship. Though the building of a 
church in those days seemed a mammoth undertaking, priests and 
people were prepared to enter upon the task with hope and vigor. 
After having considered the matter, and having decided upon im- 
mediate action, Rev. Eugene Carroll, who during this year was 
assisting Father Purcell, said that he would give a Bible to the 
man who would bring the first stick of timber for the new church. 
So anxious were all to promote the good work, and so eager were 
many to secure the distinction and the reward, that, on the same 
day some timbers were delivered, while those who arrived on the 
following morning were disappointed to find that the honor and 
the prize had already been carried off. The Bible, which bears 
the autograph of Father Carroll, was won by Edward Kelly of 



164 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Otisco, in whose possession it is at present and by whom it is 
highly prized. 

The erection of the church began about June 1, 1871, on the lot 
purchased by Father McCallion and a little to the southwest of 
the house so long in use for church purposes. This site is about 
one-fourth of a mile north of the present church, and about ten 
or twelve rods west of where Mr. E. Bordell's house now stands. 
The contract for the building of this church was taken by Patrick 
Cummings of Syracuse for a consideration of about $5,000. To 
meet at least a part of this obligation a subscription was taken 
up, to which the following persons gave $100 each: Edward 
Foley, Patrick Reilly, Thomas Larkin, Michael Lucid, Edward 
Larkin, Martin Meara, Edward Murphy and James Kennedy. 
Being completed, the church was dedicated under the title and 
patronage of St. Patrick, on February 22, 1872, by Rev. James 
E. Duffy, Bishop McNeirny being unable to be present. Father 
Duffy also said the Mass and preached on this occasion. George 
Hart of Syracuse, coming with Father Duffy, served this Mass. 
Father Duffy is now pastor of Greenbush, in the Diocese of Al- 
bany. 

The first children to be born in Otisco were Daniel Flannigan, 
James Leamy, John Long, John Tobin and John Kennedy. They 
were baptized in Syracuse. It is very probable that baptism was 
administered for the first time in Otisco in 1857, when Father 
McCallion baptized Thomas Morrissey, Michael, son of John 
Flannigan, Maggie Nolan and Michael, son of Michael Flannigan, 
Sr. "William Davern was the first person to be baptized in the 
first church, and William E. Cain and Alatthew Tracey, Jr., were 
the first to be baptized in the present church. 

A goodly number of the first Catholics who came to Otisco were 
already married in Ireland. Those who were married from here, 
during the first five years, were obliged to go to Syracuse or Ca- 
millus. The first marriage ceremony to be performed in Otisco 
was in March, 1856, by Father McCallion, the contracting parties 
being John Kinney and Mary Delaney. On the same day Father 
McCallion married John Flannigan to Alice Power. The first 
marriage which took place in the first church was that of Michael 
Leamy to Mary Long on April 20, 1873. The first couple to be 
married in the present church were William Harrigan and Anna 



OTISCO. 165 

Ryan, on September 11, 1889. From July 9, 1891, to January 1, 
1906, there have been seventy-five marriages in this mission and 
St. Leo 's parish. 

The first trustees were George Fitzgerald and Michael Meara 
and the present ones are John Murphy and William C. Long. 
Others who held this position were Patrick Kiley, John Burke 
and Michael Leamy. 

The first opportunity that was given to the Catholics in Otisco 
to be confirmed was on November 7, 1866, when Bishop Conroy 
of Albany administered this sacrament to a class of over five 
hundred in the village of Jordan. Confirmation was adminis- 
tered for the first time in Otisco on October 20, 1875, by Right 
Rev. Francis McNeirny, D. D., of Albany, to a class of over one 
hundred, many of them being adults. In the year 1880 Bishop 
McNeirny confirmed a class of about eighty-five at Marcellus, a 
part of them being from Otisco. And again on October 24, 1883, 
he confirmed eighty-five candidates of St. Patrick's mission in 
their own church at Otisco. Since Otisco became attached to 
Tully as an out-mission, confirmation has been administered by 
Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., on three different occasions to 
classes made up of candidates from both churches. 

In 1873 Rev. F. J. Purcell was succeeeded by Rev. Father 
Hayden, who, being made pastor of Marcellus, was given Otisco 
as an out-mission. During Father Hayden 's administration three 
acres of land lying one-half mile north of Otisco Center were 
purchased for the sum of $300 from Thomas Park for a cemetery, 
and blessed July 22, 1873, by Rev. F. J. Purcell, who was assisted 
by Right Rev. Mgr. Lynch, now of Utiea, N. Y., and the pastor, 
Father Hayden, This land was first bought by Patrick Reilly 
and Michael Ryan and deeded by them to the church. Prior to 
this time the Catholics buried their dead in Syracuse, Marcellus 
and Skaneateles. The first Catholic to be claimed by death in 
Otisco was Michael Flannigan, father of the present William 
Flannigan of Otisco, in the year 1856. The funeral was held 
from Old St. Mary's Church, Syracuse, and he was buried in St. 
Mary's Cemetery. The first body to be interred in St. Patrick's 
Cemetery was that of John Reilly, son of Patrick Reilly. The 
first funeral held from Old St. Patrick's was that of Annie, 
daughter of Timothy and Annie Gantley, burial being made at 



166 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Marcellus. The first to be buried from the New St. Patrick's was 
Mrs. Michael Cain of Spafford. The number of funerals held 
from St. Leo's and St. Patrick's since July, 1891, is one hundred 
and sixty-seven. 

In 1874 Rev. Bernard McDonough was given charge of Otisco, 
which he looked after until September, 1878, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Michael P. Renehan, who attended this mission 
until the time of his death, which occurred on November 17 of 
the following year. During the last two or three months of 
Father Michael Renehan 's life he was assisted by Rev. Edward 
Bayard. On November 17, 1879, Rev. James J. Renehan was ap- 
pointed to succeed his late brother, Michael, and remained in 
charge about eight years. 

On Christmas Day, 1886, after Mass had been cerebrated and 
the congregation had dispersed, the church took fire from an 
overheated furnace, which was being used for the first time, and 
the entire structure with all its contents was destroyed. After 
the fire IMass was said for about a half dozen times in the near-by 
schoolhouse. Objections then being made against using this 
place for such a purpose. Mass was hereafter said in Pomeroy 
Hall until the completion of the new church. 

Father James Renehan was relieved of the charge of Otisco in 
August, 1887, from which time until the early part of 1888 there 
was no priest in regular attendance. During this time the Rev. 
P. F. McEvoy, D. D., the present Vicar-General of the Diocese of 
Syracuse, celebrated Mass here on two different occasions, one of 
them being New Year's Day, 1888. During the latter part of 
December, 1887, Thomas McAvoy and Ellen Donovan and 
Mathew Larkin and Mary Hayes were married in Syracuse. 

In the early part of 1888 Rev. Michael 'Reilly, pastor of the 
Immaculate Conception Church at Pompey Hill, was given — 
with his other charges — the care of Otisco, the Rev. J. V. Sim- 
mons being appointed January 19, 1888, to assist him. One of 
the first considerations was the building and furnishing of a new 
church, there being nothing left of the old parish, from a finan- 
cial standpoint. Even the old site was not considered a desirable 
one, so a new one was sought. After considerable dickering and 
delay, during which three or four sites were considered and some 
adverse spirit manifested, the present site was finally secured 



OTISCO. 167 

from John Holmes for the equivalent of $600. Though it was 
getting late in the season, Father 'Reilly gathered the Catholic 
men about him and they excavated and hauled stone and laid 
wall, until before winter had closed in upon them the basement 
of the New St. Patrick's was completed. The contract for the 
superstructure was taken by Joseph McCormick of Pompey for 
about $6,000 and he began his work in the early spring. 

St. Patrick's Church Society was incorporated in Syracuse on 
March 20, 1888, a record of which was made at the County 
Clerk's office on April 12, 1888. 

The cornerstone was laid on April 25, 1889, being blessed by 
the pastor. Rev. Michael 'Reilly. The sermon was preached on 
this occasion by Rev. James 'Reilly, then of Fayetteville, N. Y. 
Other clergymen present were the Revs. F. J. Purcell of Skane- 
ateles, J. J. McLoghlin of Cortland and J. V. Simmons of Pom- 
pey. The church was dedicated on September 19, 1889, by the 
Right Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., being assisted by the Revs. F. J. 
Purcell of Skaneateles, James McGee and Joseph Tiernan of 
Syracuse, Martin Hughes of Oswego, J. J. McLoghlin of Cort- 
land, Aloysius Murphy of Rome, M. Joyce of Truxton and 
Michael 'Reilly and J. V. Simmons of Pompey. Mass was cele- 
brated by Father McLoghlin and the sermon was preached by 
Father Hughes. The first Mass in this church was celebrated by 
Father Simmons on June 30, 1889. 

Rev. Daniel Doody, being appointed resident pastor of Tully 
on June 28, 1891, was given Otisco as an out-mission. After a 
very successful pastorate Father Doody M^as succeeded in Octo- 
ber, 1895, by Rev. John F. McLoghlin. The only Mass of which 
we have knowledge that was said in a private house after the 
erection of the first church, was celebrated by Father McLoghlin 
on October 1, 1898, in the house of Mrs. Ellen Pendergast on the 
Otisco side of the town of Spafford and situated about due west 
of St. Patrick's Church. Father McLoghlin had lectured the two 
previous evenings at Spafford Corners, and, having secured a 
priest to say Mass in Tully, he went to Mrs. Pendergast 's, where 
he celebrated Mass and gave first Communion to a class of about 
eleven. Father John, as he was generally known, after laboring 
effectually in this territory, was succeeded by Rev. J. V. Byrne, 
June 1, 1901, who is now in charge. 



168 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

The present congregation numbers about five hundred souls 
and is made up in great part of the families of the sons and 
daughters of those who first planted the seeds of Catholicity in 
this community. But few of the earliest settlers remain, while 
many who came later from Ireland have already passed away. 
The first generation of Irish- Americans are, as a rule, following 
in the footsteps of their fathers and mothers and perpetuating 
their names while they adhere to their faith. From a financial 
standpoint the present men in a great measure are beginning 
where their fathers left off. With few exceptions, where the 
father is dead, one of the sons has succeeded to the possession of 
the old homestead, while other sons, who have married, have pur- 
chased other farms and homes. 



EAST SYRACUSE 

ST. MATTHEW'S congregation was formed June 15, 1880, 
when Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, ap- 
pointed as pastor Rev. Michael Clune, the present pastor 
of St. John the Evangelist 's, Syracuse. Previously, the Catholics 
of the village were attended from St. John's, Syracuse, the pas- 
tor, the Rev. Joseph Guerdet, celebrating Mass occasionally in 
Upton's Hall, Manlius street. 

Father Clune continued to say Mass in the same hall until the 
last Sunday in October, 1880, when the present church was dedi- 
cated and solemn pontifical Mass celebrated therein for the first 
time by the late Bishop McNeirny, assisted by the neighboring 
clergy. The Rev. John L. Reilly, the present beloved pastor of 
St. John 's, Schenectady, preached the sermon. 

The congregation increased rapidly. Thirty families at its es- 
tablishment. Father Clune could number one hundred and twenty- 
five families at the dedication of the church. For eleven years 
Father Clune faithfully served this growing congregation, when, 
in June, 1891, he was assigned by Bishop Ludden to the rectorate 
of St. John's Cathedral, Syracuse. 

The late Rev. J. J. McGuinness succeeded as pastor of St. Mat- 
thew's, remaining in charge until the Rev. F. J. Quinn was ap- 
pointed by Bishop Ludden, the third pastor of St. Matthew's, 
January 9, 1893. Father Quinn, with all the zeal for which he 
was known as the faithful assistant to the late Rev. Dr. 'Hara 
of St. Mary's, Syracuse, went to work directly to advance the 
spiritual and temporal interests of St. Matthew's congregation. 
The youth received especial consideration from his pastoral care ; 
societies were formed for the young and the old, thus to encour- 
age the frequent reception of the sacraments so indispensable. 
Father Quinn was appointed first pastor of the new St. Anthony 
of Padua Church, Syracuse, and preached his farewell sermon on 
the last Sunday in May, 1901. 

The Rev. John F. McLoghlin succeeded to the pastorate and 
served until June 1, 1907, when he was transferred to Bingham- 



170 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

ton to organize the new parish of St. John the Evangelist, that 
city. The parish had grown and prospered while under Father 
McLoghlin's care and his people listened with regret to his part- 
ing words. 

The Rev. Dennis J. Moore, present pastor of St. Matthew's, 
came to the parish in June, 1907. Father Moore was born in La 
Fayette, this diocese, and received his preliminary education in 
the district schools and in St. John's Catholic Academy, Syra- 
cuse, then conducted by the Christian Brothers. His theological 
studies were made in St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. He was or- 
dained May 19, 1894, and was immediately assigned as assistant 
priest to St. Agnes' parish, Utica, where he labored for thirteen 
years, or until the time of appointment to St. Matthew 's, his first 
pastorate. 

The condition of St. Matthew's congregation at the present 
time is prosperous. The Catholic population of the village is 
gradually increasing and numbers now more than a thousand 
souls. They are mostly of Irish parentage, but nearly two hun- 
dred and fifty souls are of German descent. 

A comfortable rectory and literary hall adorn the church 
grounds. The parish is without debt of any sort and has a build- 
ing fund of several thousand dollars in bank. 



LIVERPOOL 

THE village of Liverpool is attended from St, John the Bap- 
tist parish, Syracuse. In the summer of 1888 efforts were 
made by Father Mullany to ascertain the exact number of 
Catholics scattered over this part of Onondaga County lying so 
near the historic Jesuit Well. A station was appointed, and once 
a month a priest would come and offer up the Holy Sacrifice. 
Mass was celebrated in the old Globe Hotel Hall, and thither 
came Catholics from the village and the outlying districts and as 
time rolled on their numbers increased and their earnest wish to 
have a church of their own grew more evident every day. 

In the summer of 1889 operations were begun. The present 
site was purchased and articles of incorporation were submitted 
to the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., Bishop of Syracuse. Meet- 
ing his approbation, the pastor and people set about building 
their temple in honor of St. Joseph. Within a short time the cor- 
nerstone was laid, and on October 30 of the following year the 
edifice was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop. The sermons on 
these occasions were preached respectively by the late Rt. Rev. 
Mgr. J. J. Kennedy, V. G., of St. Lucy's, Syracuse, and the Rt. 
Rev. Mgr. J. S. M. Lynch, D. D., M. R., of St. John's, Utica. 

The following were among the first contributors towards the 
erection of the church: Thomas P. Murray, John Carliss, Wil- 
liam Doyle, Mrs. Charles Ryan, Mrs. Martin Ryan, Joseph Ken- 
nedy, Fred Walters, Mrs. Mary Chambers, John F. Davin, Pat- 
rick Ryan, Edward Clark, P. L. Ford, Hugh Gaffney, Felix 
Bergdorf, Frank Showers, Mary and Maggie Davin, Patrick 
Meade, Philip Sibert, Thomas Hand, George Smith, Edward 
Lynch, Mrs. Thomas Timmons, James Furlong, John O'Brien, 
John O'Brien, Sr., John Mahoney, Michael Maddigan, Thomas 
Shaughnessy, Sr., Thomas Shaughnessy, Jr., Thomas A. Dmm, 
Edward Whalen, James Murray, Michael Gaffney, Nellie Ryan, 
John McDonald, Nellie Doyle. Generous non-Catholics have 
given much assistance. The church property is valued at $1,200 
and is entirely free of debt. 



CICERO 

DURING the year 1888 the idea was conceived of building a 
Catholic church in Cicero. The present pastor, the Rev. 
John F. Mullany, took steps to ascertain the exact num- 
ber of Catholics scattered over this extensive part of Onondaga 
County and lying near the historic Lake Oneida. It was agreed 
that a priest from St. John the Baptist Church, Syracuse, would 
offer up the Holy Sacrifice once a month. The first Mass thus 
celebrated took place in the house of Mrs. A. Lawton, then at 
Joseph Hepp 's, later at the house of Frank Piquet, a well-known 
Catholic resident of the little village. On the latter 's removal to 
Syracuse, Mass was continued in the house of Joseph Hepp. 
Thither came the Catholics, and as time rolled on their numbers 
increased and their earnest wish to have a little church for them- 
selves grew more evident every day. 

The present site was purchased in the summer of 1889 and 
articles of incorporation were submitted to the Rt. Rev. P. A. 
Ludden, D. D., Bishop of Syracuse. With his approbation, the 
pastor and people set about the erection of a suitable edifice. 
"Within a short time the cornerstone was laid and in the month of 
July the little church was dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop. The 
sermon on the former occasion was preached by the Rev. Michael 
Clune of St. John the Evangelist's, Syracuse, and the dedicatory 
sermon by the late Rev. Thomas Cullen of St. John's, Utica. 

In their earnest efforts thus far, the Catholics of Cicero owe 
much gratitude to friends within and without the Fold who 
aided them very materially in the construction of their beautiful 
little Church of the Sacred Heart. The following were among 
the charter members : John Dorshug, Timothy Murphy, Joseph 
Hepp, Peter Lawton, William Herbrandt and son, Louis Horner, 
Frederick Schewkart, Joseph Goss, Mrs. Anna Lavender, Dennis 
O'Shea, James Webster, Albert Horner, Thomas Homer, Au- 
gusta Horner, Michael O'Brien, Martin Baker, James McCabe, 
Joseph Gross, Richard Ryan, Martin Stier, J. P. Dugan, Troy, 
N. Y., Mrs. Blynn. 

The church property is valued at $1,000 and is out of debt. 



OSWEGO COUNTY 



OSWEGO 

ANCIENT CITY ON LAKE ONTARIO VISITED IN TURN BY THE 
INTREPID CHAMPLAIN, PERE LE MOYNE AND COMPANIONS, 
BY FRONTENAC AND HIS FORCES, AND BY MONTCALM, 
WITH THE IRISH BRIGADE OF FONTENOY FAME 

ST. PAULAS CHURCH 

THE history of St. Paul's church of Oswego, the oldest 
and parent Catholic church of the city, would be incom- 
plete were no reference made to events occurring in this 
place and vicinity, during its earlier years, after it was first 
discovered by the white man, since these events tended more or 
less to promote the knowledge and the spread of the Christian 
religion. Samuel Champlain, a French gentleman of exalted 
character, of great intrepidity and filled with a burning desire 
for the conversion of the savages of North America, set out on 
a tour of discovery in 1615 from Quebec, where he was Governor, 
and, proceeding up the St. Lawrence and thence up the Ottawa, 
he reached the northeastern shores of Georgian Bay. Having 
overcome the many and great difficulties of this long journey, 
having learned much of the territory and having made the 
acquaintance and gained the friendship of every Indian tribe 
he met, he started on his return, having learned what he thought 
should be the best method for the guidance of the missionaries 
in their evangelizing efforts. 

Coursing along the Eastern shore of the Georgian Bay, cross- 
ing through Lake Simcoe and passing down the Trent, he found 
himself at length on the broad, blue and beautiful Ontario, the 
first white man to look upon its glorious expanse. With his 500 
companions he crossed to the southeastern shore, hid his canoes 
in the bushes and walked some twelve miles along the shore until 
he arrived, no doubt, at the mouth of the Oswego River. He 
could now form a good idea of the territory and of what should 
be necessary to ensure the conversion of the Indians. His soul 
was aglow for the salvation of the savages and the glory of 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 175 

France. Parkman says of him: "While New England was a 
solitude, and the settlers of Virginia scarcely dared venture 
inland beyond the sound of a cannon-shot, Champlain was plant- 
ing on shores and islands the emblem of his faith. Of the 
pioneers of the North American forests, his name stands fore- 
most on the list. It was he who struck the deepest and boldest 
strokes into the heart of their pristine barbarism. At Chantilly, 
at Fontainebleau and at Paris, in the cabinets of princes and of 
royalty itself, mingling with the proud vanities of the court; 
then lost from sight in the depths of Canada, the companion of 
savages, sharer of their toils, privations and battles, more hardy, 
patient and bold than they ; — such for successive years, were the 
alternations of this man 's life. ' ' 

Thus it happened that Champlain prepared the way for the 
first religious services to be held at Oswego, and for the eventual 
efforts to convert the Iroquois. But as plans had already been 
made and partially put into execution to evangelize the Hurons, 
for they seemed the more mild, reasonable and the less blood- 
thirsty, and as, should their conversion be effected, their example 
and influence would aid much towards the conversion of the 
many other tribes throughout the continent, the effort among 
the Iroquois was put off until a later day. To priests of the 
Recollect Order the suggestion of these missions was first made. 
They gladly undertook the task, and during their few years 
made excellent progress, but the territory was so vast, the 
missions so far apart and the difficulties so overwhelming that 
they could not with their comparatively few men make much 
headway in the work of instruction and conversion as they felt 
they should. The harvest was great, but the laborers were few. 
The aid, therefore, of the fathers of the Jesuit order was in- 
voked, and these responded nobly. Never did missionaries of 
any age or any clime, submit to greater privations, put forth 
more Herculean efforts or suffer more cruel and horrible martyr- 
dom than did these Jesuits, in order to bring the savages of 
North America to the knowledge of Christ. 

Parkman, again, says: "The Jesuits had borne all that the 
human frame seems capable of bearing. They had escaped as 
by miracle from torture and death. Did their zeal flag or 
their courage fail? A fervor intense and unquenchable urged 



176 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

them on to more distant and deadly ventures. The bein^, so 
near to mortal sympathy, so human, yet so divine, in whom 
their faith impersonated and dramatized the great principles of 
Christian truth — virgins, saints and angels, — hovered over them, 
and held before their raptured sight crowns of glory and gar- 
lands of immortal bliss. They burned to do, to suffer, and to 
die; and now, from out a living martyrdom, they turned their 
heroic gaze towards an horizon dark with perils yet more 
appalling, and saw in hope the day when they should bear the 
cross into the blood-stained dens of the Iroquois. But in this 
exaltation and tension of the powers, was there no moment when 
the recoil of nature claimed a temporary sway ? When, an exile 
from his kind, alone, beneath the desolate rock and the gloomy 
pine-trees, the priest gazed forth on the pitiless wilderness and 
the hovels of its dark and ruthless tenants, his thoughts, it may 
be, flew longingly beyond those wastes of forests and sea that 
lay between him and the home of his boyhood, or rather, led by 
a deeper attraction, they revisited the ancient centre of his faith, 
and he seemed to stand once more in that gorgeous temple, 
where, shrined in lazuli and gold, rest the hallowed bones of 
Loyola. Column and arch and dome rise upon his vision, 
radiant in painted light and trembling with celestial music. 
Again he kneels before the altar, from whose tablature beams 
upon him that loveliest of shapes in which the imagination of 
man has embodied the spirit of Christianity. 

"The image overpowers him. A thrill shakes his frame, and 
he bows in reverential rapture. No longer a memory, no longer 
a dream, but a visioned presence, distinct and luminous in the 
forest shades. The Virgin stands before him. Prostrate on the 
rocky earth, he venerates the benign angel of his ecstatic faith, 
then turns with rekindled fervors to his stern apostleship. ' ' 

Among the Hurons, the missionaries were successful. In 
nearly every Indian village, bark chapels were erected, the Mass 
was celebrated daily, instructions were given and the conversions 
became numerous. 

But a black and direful cloud hung over the Hurons. The 
Five Nations, the Iroquois, occupying the Central portion of 
New York between Buffalo and Albany and extending north and 
taking in Oswego and Ogdensburg, were the most powerful, able 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 177 

and numerous body of Indians, perhaps, to be found. They 
were treacherous, cruel and blood-thirsty in the extreme. Actu- 
ated with a diabolical hatred for every tribe but their own, they 
never let pass an opportunity to pounce with the ferocity of 
tigers upon all they could take unaware, and so successful were 
they in their pursuits of the Hurons that these — Pagans, Chris- 
tians and the missionaries — were with frightful cruelty and 
indescribable barbarity, tortured and put to death. 

Now that the Hurons, as well as their missionaries, were com- 
pletely wiped out of existence, the project 'of attempting the 
conversion of the Iroquois could be considered. But those who 
would undertake the work, should be men able to leave all 
worldly interests behind them, put up with every privation and 
misery and look forward to the moral certainty of a martyrdom 
of the most excrutiating kind. That martyrdom of the most 
excruciating kind was certainly before him who would attempt 
the conversion of the Iroquois was clear from the experience of 
the Jesuit missionary, Father Jogues. 

In 1642, whilst the Huron Missions were still in existence and 
prospering. Father Jogues started to go to the aid of his brother 
priests among these Hurons, taking with him from Quebec some 
three or four Frenchmen and several Christian Indians, in order 
to carry not only supplies for the journey, but also necessary 
articles for the several missions. He had not ascended the St. 
Lawrence farther than the present town of Sorel, when he and 
his were pounced upon by a prowling band of Iroquois, borne 
across the St. Lawrence, up the Richelieu and debarked in the 
dense forest lining the banks of the river. At once the captors, 
to give the captured a taste of what they should expect, pro- 
ceeded to tear with their teeth the nails from the priest's hands, 
as he was the leader of the captives. Reaching at last their 
Mohawk village, the savages prepared new and fearful tortures 
for their victims, they were beaten and torn, stripped, stretched 
naked on the ground, their hands and feet tied to stakes and 
the children taught to pour red hot ashes and coals over their 
bodies. Then a Huron woman, a convert, but a prisoner, was 
ordered to cut off the thumb of Father Jogues' left hand. 
Bleeding, agonizing, feverish, more dead than alive, the priest 
uttered no word of complaint, but rather, when he recovered a 



178 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

little, tried kindly to give aid wherever he could. His gentle- 
ness won upon the savages and he was trusted. During the 
months of his captivity he made several converts and in all 
baptized seventy. The Dutch at Albany, learning of his cap- 
tivity and treatment, met him, urged him to escape through 
their aid, and placed at his disposal the means. He hesitated in 
view of the conversions he was operating. Finally, being urged, 
he made for Manhattan and set sail for France. After some 
months he returned to Canada. As the result Fathers were now 
about to attempt a mission among the Iroquois, and as Father 
Jogues already knew the people and their language, he was 
selected for the work. In view of his experience, he shuddered 
at the prospect, but resignedly and humbly he accepted, saying : 
Iho et non redibo, I shall go and shall not return. His words 
proved prophetic. Arriving amongst the savages, he was received 
apparently in a friendly manner, but after a time the unrelent- 
ing and savage ferocity of the Iroquois asserted itself. Invited 
into a wigwam, he stooped to enter, when an Indian, hid behind 
the doorway, split his head with a tomahawk. Thus the pure, 
gentle and learned Jogues suffered martyrdom for the faith in 
the year 1646. 

The sufferings and death of Father Jogues, then, were lessons 
for those that would attempt the conversion of the Iroquois. 
Onondaga was the principal seat of the Iroquois, called the Five 
Nations, and there were three routes by which to reach Onon- 
daga; one up the Richelieu, through Lake Champlain, Lake 
George and up the Mohawk ; another up the St. Lawrence, west 
on Lake Ontario to Hungry Bay and from this place, two routes 
led, the one close to the southern extremity of Lake Oneida and 
the other crossing Oneida River close to the northern extremity 
of this same lake. A third route was up the Oswego from Lake 
Ontario. Our interest on this occasion has to do with this last 
way, for we wish to determine as nearly as possible the time of 
the earliest religious services at Oswego. 

During the latter part of 1652 and the early part of 1653, the 
Iroquois in their attacks on Montreal and vicinity were worsted 
again and again, and, as a consequence, were discouraged ; they 
asked for peace, and missionaries. Peace being agreed upon, 
Father le Moyne, thoroughly versed in the habits and language 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 179 

of the Iroquois, was sent. Ascending the St. Lawrence and 
crossing to Hungry Bay, he made his way through the forest 
by Lake Oneida to Onondaga. He was received with open arms 
and every demonstration of respect. Returning to Montreal 
he gave a glowing account of this reception and the prospects of 
a mission. Arrangements were at once made for this, and, with 
another Jesuit Father and three or four French and Indians, 
bearing supplies in their canoes, he came back to the Onondagas 
by way of Oswego, stopping at Oswego for several days both to 
recuperate and to commence a mission among the savages of 
Onondaga happening to be gathered at the mouth of the river. 
Oswego to the Indians of the Five Nations was a place of great 
importance. It was one of their hunting grounds, not only for 
small game, but large game as well. The elk and the bear could 
be seen roaming fearlessly along the shore. Besides, it was the 
trading place for the bartering of their furs with the French, 
when they did not carry these to Montreal or Quebec. It was 
the barrier of the Five Nations, and subsequently the market for 
the enormous fur trade of the entire West and Northwest with 
the English, Dutch and French buyers. Having their supplies, 
erecting their tent and engaging the attention of the Indians, the 
Fathers celebrated the mysteries of their faith. This, then, was 
the first time, so far as we have any data, for Christian services 
to be held at Oswego. After a few days the missionaries started 
up the river for the Onondagas. They were received with much 
rejoicing. A large number — men, women and children — of 
Christian prisoners, spared from those captured from the Hurons 
and now assimilating with the Iroquois, their captors, were con- 
tinually speaking of and extolling the "black gowns," so that 
the Iroquois became greatly interested in the advent of the 
Fathers among them, and were anxious to hear what the Fathers 
had to present. The conversions were in a brief time many, and 
so thoroughly and intelligently did the converts become imbued 
with the real spirit of Christianity that Parkman felt obliged to 
say : ' ' In a former chapter, we followed Father Paul Le Jeune 
on his winter roamings, with a band of Montagnais, among the 
forests on the Northern boundary of Maine. Now Father Gabriel 
Druilletes sets forth on a similar excursion, but with one essential 
difference. Le Jeune 's companions were heathen, who persecuted 



180 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

him day and night with their gibes and sarcasms. Those of 
Dniilletes were all converts, who looked on him as a friend axid 
father. There were prayers, confessions, masses, and invocations 
of St. Joseph. They built their bark chapel at every camp, and 
no festival of the Church passed unobserved. On Good Friday 
they laid their best robe of beaver-skin on the snow, placed on it 
a crucifix, and knelt around it in prayer. What was their prayer ? 
It was a petition for the forgiveness and the conversion of their 
enemies. Those who know the intensity and tenacity of an In- 
dian 's hatred will see in this something more than a change from 
one superstition to another. An idea, in this, had been presented 
to the mind of the savage, to which he had previously been an 
utter stranger. This is the most remarkable success in the whole 
body of the Jesuit Relations ; but it is very far from being the 
only evidence, that, in teaching the dogmas and obser\'ances of 
the Roman Church, the missionaries taught also the morals of 
Christianity. When we look for the results of these missions, we 
soon become aware that the influence of the French and the 
Jesuits extended far beyond the circle of converts. It eventually 
modified and softened the manners of many unconverted tribes. 
In the wars of the next century we do not often find those ex- 
amples of diabolical atrocity with which the earlier annals are 
crowded. The savage burned his enemies alive, it is true, but he 
rarely ate them : neither did he torment them with the same de- 
liberation and persistency. He was a savage still, but not so 
often a devil. The improvement was not great, but it was dis- 
tinct; and it seems to have taken pla«e wherever Indian tribes 
were in close relations with any respectable community of white 
men. Thus Philip's war in New England, cruel as it was, was 
less ferocious, judging from Canadian experience, than it would 
have been, if a generation of civilized intercourse had not worn 
down the sharpest asperities of barbarism. Yet it was to the 
French priests and colonists, mingled as they were soon to be 
among the tribes of the vast interior, that the change is chiefly to 
be ascribed. In this softening of manners, such as it was, and in 
the obedient Catholicity of a few hundred tamed savages, gath- 
ered at stationary missions in various parts of Canada, we find, 
after a centurv^ had elapsed, all the results of the heroic toil of 
the Jesuits. ' ' 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 181 

A second opportunity for religious service at Oswego occurred 
in 1696, when Count Louis Frontenac, Governor of Canada, made 
war upon the Five Nations. Debarking his troops at Oswego and 
resting there both before commencing the ascent of the river and 
after his return from laying waste the crops and towns of the 
Onondagas, he made his preparations for his return to Quebec. 
As chaplains almost invariably accompanied the French armies, 
and as invariably were faithful in discharging their religious 
duties, so we may be sure divine services were held during the 
army's stay. 



A third opportunity for religious services at Oswego was pre- 
sented in 1756, when Montcalm captured the place from the 
English and destroyed its fortifications. Here may be repeated 
a brief sketch of the history leading up to the capture of Oswego. 

Manhattan, or New York, belonged by right of discovery as 
well as of occupation to the Dutch ; but the English laid claim to 
the place and took it by force. Gradually extending their claims 
westward and wishing to monopolize the fur trade, they took 
possession of Oswego also and erected forts at the place ; for its 
situation on Lake Ontario was the best adapted to command the 
trade of the entire West, The French claimed the place, and 
Lake Ontario and the country bordering on this by right of dis- 
covery, as the Dutch did Manhattan. They remonstrated with 
the English, but to no purpose. Determined, then, to enforce 
their claim by force, Montcalm, one of the ablest generals, as 
Parkman says, that ever put foot on American soil, given chief 
command of the French forces in America, made preparations to 
attack Oswego. He had of regulars, the battalions of La Sarre, 
Guyenne and the Irish brigade under Colonel Beam. He had also 
a few hundred Canadians and Indians — in all a little less than 
3,000, not counting the scouting party — Canadians and Indians — 
about 1,100 — under Villiers and Rigaud de Vaudreuil, brother 
of the Governor General of Canada. These were employed in de- 
stroying the stores collected by the English between Oswego and 
Albany, and also in preventing supplies reaching Oswego. The 
Irish Brigade, above mentioned, gained a world-wide reputation 
by its services under the French. Originating at the fall of 
Limerick and preferring perpetual exile in the service of France 



182 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

to the most flattering opportunities offered by William, Prince of 
Orange, it performed prodigies of valor — often inadequately ap- 
preciated — upon the battlefields of Europe, crowning these by its 
heroic charge at Fontenoy. 

Eleven years after Fontenoy, a mere remnant of this brigade, 
500, guarded Fort Niagara in the woods of America, and took 
part in the capture and destruction of the forts at Oswego. 

Montcalm having determined his course, sent orders to his dif- 
ferent and scattered forces to rendezvous at Hungry Bay at the 
earliest possible moment. He himself set out from Fort Fron- 
tenac (Kingston) August 4, 1756, with the first division of his 
army, consisting of De La Sarre's and De Guyenne's battalions 
and four pieces of cannon. He arrived at Hungry Bay on the 
6th. The second division. Beam's Irish Brigade (500 men), the 
Canadian militia, 80 bateaux of artillery and provisions arrived 
on the 8th. 

Montcalm sent forward, immediately on this same day, a van- 
guard under Rigaud de Vaudreuil for Sandy Creek, three leagues 
from Oswego. The first division of his army followed, arriving 
at this place on the 10th, after a hard time cutting their way 
through the woods. In four hours after the arrival of these, the 
vanguard was sent ahead again and on arriving at Baldwin's 
Bay, just below St. Paul's cemetery, commenced to prepare the 
place for the encampment of the whole army. On the arrival, 
again, of the first division, the first thing was to erect a battery 
to cover the debarkation of the second division coming up in 
bateaux, with the boats carrying the artillery, ammunition and 
provisions; for it was thought the English at Oswego might, on 
discovering the arrival of the French, commence an attack from 
the lake. On the 12th at break of day the second division, the 
artillery and supplies, arrived by boats. As was expected, the 
English sent two armed vessels down to reconnoiter and to make 
an attack, if found feasible. They fired on the debarking boats 
without doing any damage, and on receiving in reply from the 
battery on shore a couple of 12 pounders in their side, they felt it 
prudent to push out of reach of the cannon and to watch the 
steps taken by the French. 

At 11 A. M. a road that could accommodate the heavy guns was 
started from the camp through the woods and through a swampy 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 183 

section, to a point just South of Fort Ontario occupying the posi- 
tion of the present Fort. 

Six companies of men, each fifty strong, during the day and 
entire night, completed the road early on the morning of the 
12th. That night a trench at the East of the fort and 540 feet 
from it was started at the lake and ran parallel with the fort for 
600 feet. The obstructions of stumps and stones prevented faster 
progress during the night, but it was completed to the river be- 
fore the evening of the 13th. The Fort at early dawn perceived 
the efforts of the French, opened fire upon the trenches at once, 
and kept up a cannonade during the whole day. The French 
replied, but with small arms. At 11 p. m., Montcalm noticed an 
unusual commotion in the fort, which he found was being de- 
serted. At a signal from Fort Oswego, the principal fort, the 
garrison of Fort Ontario proceeded to cross in bateaux to the 
West side, when Montcalm rushed into the deserted fort and 
turned its guns upon their former owners. Before dawn, next 
morning, the 14th, a heavy batteiy was hastily erected at the 
river end of the trench so that it had complete range of the west 
side fort. The Canadians and the Indians under Rigaud were 
ordered to ford the river above the place occupied by the present 
upper bridge, so that the escape of any from the Fort towards 
Albany might be prevented. The Irish brigade crossed in boats, 
to erect batteries that should command both Fort Oswego and 
Fort George — on the site of the present Carrington Castle. The 
brigade was counted upon also to make the final assault. The 
crossing was made in three separate columns; Rigaud with his 
Canadians and Indians plunged into the river and found the 
waters reaching to their middle and sometimes to the chin. The 
brigade crossed on rafts and in boats, for the artillery and am- 
munition required this. As the crossing was about to take place 
at 6 o'clock in the morning, the battery at the river end of the 
trench, consisting of nine cannon, opened fire on the fort. The 
fort commenced earlier and was more brisk in its fire; but its 
brave commander, Colonel Mercer, at every point encouraging 
his men, was early in the engagement cut in two by a cannon ball. 
John Littlehales assumed command, but he was not the man for 
the occasion, nor did his men have confidence in him. The white 



184 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

flag was hoisted at 10 a. m. and the English at Oswego sur- 
rendered. 

The capture of Oswego was a great blow to England and to her 
interests in America, not only because of loss of property, but 
because of the loss of prestige among the Indians. Two thousand 
men — not soldiers — with 600 bateaux and whale boats had been 
employed throughout the season in transporting from Albany 
cannon, ammunition, provisions and other supplies to Oswego. 
An enormous quantity for the times and place had been collected. 
Besides, eight war vessels, some of these carrying as many as 18 
large cannon, were built and equipped in this place and anchored 
in the mouth of the river; for the English intended to make a 
descent on Frontenac (Kingston), Toronto and Fort Niagara and 
thus cut off the entire fur trade of the West from Montreal and 
Quebec. Not only this scheme was frustrated by the capture of 
Oswego, but the entire property — forts, ships, bateaux, cannon, 
ammunition and provisions — fell into the hands of the French. 
Seventeen hundred English regulars were taken prisoners, and 
the Irish Brigade had the pleasure once more of fraternizing with 
the brave English that they had met eleven years before — May 
11th, 1745 — on the bloody field of Fontenoy. 

The surrender took place on the 14th of August, 1756, and the 
property taken was estimated at $20,000,000. The prisoners, can- 
non, ammunition and all other transportable supplies were pre- 
pared to be put on board the vessels and bateaux in order to be 
taken to Fort Frontenac. Meantime the forts and such supplies 
as could not be transported, were destroyed and a grand service 
of thanksgiving was held by Father Claude Godefroy, the chap- 
lain, and Father Piquet, the energetic Sulpician having charge 
of the large Iroquois Mission of the Presentation at Ogdensburg. 

Father Piquet, rejoicing at the triumph of his countrymen, 
planted a cross in the midst of the ruins of Fort Oswego, on 
which he affixed the legend In hoc signo vincunt, and erecting a 
pole alongside of the cross, he placed upon it the King 's arms and 
inscription : Manihus date lilia plenis. 



After the capture of Oswego by Montcalm in 1756, no record is 
in sight of Catholic services being held in the place until 1830. 
At this date, some fifteen or sixteen Catholic families had settled 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 185 

in Oswego, though anterior to this the names 'Connor, McCar- 
thy, etc., were found on record, yet it is quite probable that owing 
to the inconvenience of securing in those early days a clergyman, 
they lived and died without religious services or the benefits of 
the Sacraments. 

The fifteen or sixteen families, anxious to perform their re- 
ligious duties, and to have the services of a clergyman in their 
needs, invited the Rev. Father Donahoe, who had charge at the 
time of Auburn, Rome and other villages of Central New York, 
to visit Oswego and to attend it. This he could do, for his pas- 
toral jurisdiction covered the territory in which not only was 
Oswego, but also other rising villages in the Northeastern part of 
New York State. Arrangements were made to have divine serv- 
ices held in this place every three months, the first service being 
held in a private house on the west side of the river. 

Subsequently services were held, first in one house and then in 
another, until, finally, a lot now occupied by St. Paul's Church, 
was purchased from the late Hon. Gerrit Smith, and a cheap one- 
story, 20 X 24 frame building, to serve for church purposes, was 
erected upon it. 

For a number of years, this poor, cheap little building was im- 
posing enough and large enough to meet the wants of the Catho- 
lics of Oswego, for their increase in numbers was slow. In time, 
however, larger accommodations became necessary, so an addition 
was made to the old building. Even thus enlarged, it was soon 
found too small for the now fast increasing congregation. 

Finally, about 1840, the congregation felt, though still poor, 
that it should make the effort to erect a larger, more convenient 
and more befitting temple for religion and one that should meet 
the requirements of Catholic services at Oswego for all time. 

"With this view, then, the immediate preparation for the work 
was so pushed forward that in 1842 the corner stone of a stone 
building 55 x 100 was laid during the pastorate of the late Rev. 
Father Rogers, and before the winter set in the walls and the 
roof were completed. 

During the pastoral charge of the late Rev. Father Kenny and 
the late Rev. Michael Kelly the church was finished, decorated 
and a very fine organ installed. Between 1850 and 1868, under 
the supervision of Father Kelly the large and commodious three- 



186 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

story brick school house, adjoining the church, was erected. 
Though the Catholics of Oswego in 1842, thought they were 
building a large and substantial church that should meet the 
needs of the congregation for all time, yet it was found in 1871 
that more room and better accommodations must be found. Con- 
sequently in 1871, the old church was, for the most part, pulled 
down, and the present church occupies the site of the old. The 
present church, stone and brick, is 200 feet long by 76 feet 
broad and its seats in the body of the church and in the galleries 
will nicely accommodate 2,300 people. 

From the congregation of St. Paul's have branched off the 
other four flourishing Catholic congregations of the city, yet St. 
Paul 's is still a large, flourishing and prosperous community, and 
without a solitary dime of debt upon any of its property. 

It supports a first class parochial school, in which, under 
thirteen lay teachers, a comprehensive knowledge of our English 
tongue and cognate sciences are carefully and correctly taught, 
without fads or frills. Six hundred pupils are in regular attend- 
ance. 

In addition to the magnificent church and school property 
which is owned by the congregation of St. Paul's is St. Paul's 
Cemetery, one of the two largest in the city and St. Paul's fine 
organ which, with its improvements to date, cost $21,900. 

The first pastor of St. Paul 's was the Rev. Father 'Donohue. 
He was succeeded by the late Rev. Father Rogers, he by the late 
Rev. Father Kenny and this last, in 1850, by the late Rev. 
Michael Kelly. Father Kelly was the pastor except during an 
intermission of a few months until October, 1869, when the 
present incumbent, the Very Rev. Michael Barry, M. R., V. F.. 
was appointed to the place. 

Dean Barry was born August 15, 1831, at Castle Lyons, County 
Cork, Ireland, and was educated in Irish schools. He made his 
studies for the priesthood at the Grande Seminary, Montreal, 
Canada, and was ordained in 1861. His first appointment was to 
Saratoga, where he served from July, 1861, to July, 1863, going 
thence to Cartage, where he remained until November, 1869, 
when the long and fruitful pastorate at St. Paul 's began. 

During the forty years that have since elapsed the venerable 
Dean has won the effection and esteem of his townsmen, irre- 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 187 

spective of creed or class. Strong and vigorous in his 78th year, 
"Oswego's Grandest Old Man" is at once its ideal priest and 
foremost citizen. Ardent and unyielding as a churchman, an im- 
placable foe of evil, in public or private, he has taken intense in- 
terest in the problems which have from time to time confronted 
the city of his adoption ; and to his helpful suggestion and prac- 
tical initiative many moral and civic reforms have been brought 
about. Indeed, it may not be too much to say, that during the 
greater part of his service the pastor of St. Paul's has been in 
himself a personal purity league and a political reform associa- 
tion with ever widening influence and never flagging zeal. 

For several years prior to his appointment as pastor of Fulton, 
the Kev. John L. Lindsman, S. T. B., was assistant priest at St. 
Paul 's. He was succeeded in the fall of 1906 by the Rev. John P. 
Shanahan, who was replaced the following year by the Rev. James 
F. Collins, S. T. L. Father Collins was born in St. Paul's parish, 
August 12, 1879, served its altar and attended its parochial 
school. He was ordained in Syracuse by Bishop Ludden, October 
7, 1905, and after a year at the Catholic University of America 
and a temporary appointment to the Cathedral of the Immacu- 
late Conception, was assigned to his home parish. 

In the early days many of the outlying missions were organ- 
ized and served by the priests of St. Paul 's. The most important 
of these was that in the present city of Fulton, where the first 
Mass was said about the year 1850 by Father Kelly, fourth pastor. 



ST. MARY^S 

IT IS almost historically certain that the first Mass in Oswego 
in modern times was said on the West Side of the Oswego 
River and within the present territory of St. Mary's parish, 
as in " The History of Oswego County and City " it is stated that 
steps were taken to form St. Paul's parish about the year 1830, 
and that Mass was said in a private house on the West Side, and 
after the building of a small frame church on the present site of 
St. Paul's, on the East Side, all Catholics from both sides of the 
river attended there. Later the French population, wishing to 
form a separate congregation, St. IMary 's Church was commenced 
in 1848, the cornerstone being laid March 24, 1849, at which cere- 
mony Father Foultier preached in French, Father Newton of 
Syracuse in German and Father Kenney in English. It was 
completed in the same year and dedicated in 1850, by His Emi- 
nence Cardinal ISIcCloskey, then Bishop of Albany. 

The structure was 110 by 52 feet with a tower and steeple 135 
feet in height. During its erection, services were held for two 
years in what was called "The Tabernacle Chapel" or "Taber- 
nacle Hall," the only large assembly place on the West Side. 
Father Foultier said the first Mass and was served by Jules 
Boardway, a French-Canadian, still a member of St. Mary's con- 
gregation, who states that there were about three hundred pres- 
ent. 

The founder and first pastor of St. Mary's was the Rev. F. C. 
Foultier, a native of France. He was sent here at the request of 
a number of French and French-Canadian families, particularly 
one Joseph Renaud, a well-educated Frenchman. These, how- 
ever, proved too poor and few to erect a building and Father 
Foultier solicited and obtained the aid of American and Irish 
Catholics, who just then were anxious to have a church on the 
West Side, of which they might also have the benefit. Accord- 
ingly, when the new church was opened for divine worship, more 
than half the pews were at once rented by English-speaking peo- 
ple ; and when a school was started in the basement, two English- 
speaking teachers, the Misses Halligan and Gilmore, were em- 
ployed. 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 189 

St. Mary's, therefore, had from its commencement a mixed 
congregation. In July, 1851, Rev. Father Foultier, being some- 
what discouraged, left his charge and soon became pastor of St. 
Vincent de Paul's in New Orleans. The Rev. James Keveny, an 
Irish priest, succeeded him, but he left for St. Peter's, Troy, in 
1852, and was succeeded by the Rev. Joseph Guerdet, a native of 
France. 

During the administration of the latter, the Sisters of St. Jo- 
seph were installed to teach in the parochial school. This was in 
1858 and is their oldest foundation in the East from their Mother 
House at Carondalet, South St. Louis; older, therefore, than the 
Mother House of this province at Troy, N. Y. A house was pur- 
chased for them in Sixth street, to which several additions were 
afterwards made. To make room for one of these additions. 
Father Guerdet removed the rectory previously built by Father 
Foultier from Sixth street to a lot in the rear of the church on 
Cayuga street. 

This is the present parochial residence, now the property of 
the congregation, who paid Father Guerdet $3,000 for it. 

On March 10, 1859, during a mission at which the church was 
thronged for an evening service, a section of the church floor 
gave way and the people in that part of the church were precipi- 
tated into the basement. No one was killed by the fall, but in the 
panic and rush for the front door and the press of the crowd on 
the outside endeavoring to enter to see the cause of the commo- 
tion, one man and four women were killed, the strong walking 
over the heads of the weak. 

Father Guerdet made many improvements in the church prop- 
erty. His assistants were Rev. Louis Griffa, from July, 1865, to 
July, 1866 ; the Rev. J. B. Harrigan, from July, 1866, to June, 
1868, holding over into the next pastorate. 

In 1867 Father Guerdet was promoted to St. John the Evan- 
gelist's Church, Syracuse, and the Rev. Louis Griffa, a native of 
Italy and a former assistant, succeeded him at St. Mary's. His 
first care was to complete another addition to the school, which 
was commenced by his predecessor and which is still the school 
and Sisters' residence. 

The congregation of St. Mary's had now become exceedingly 
large, owing to the immigration of French-Canadians and to the 



190 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

rapid growth of the Irish and English-speaking population. The 
new church of St. John's was, therefore, erected in the Fifth 
Ward, through the exertions of the Rev. John F. Lowery, who 
thus took away from St. Mary's about half of its English-speak- 
ing people. But the French who, in 1867, had dwindled to fifty- 
four names on the pew book, had now increased to about four 
hundred. The idea, therefore, arose of forming them into a 
separate congregation. In 1870, Father Griffa obtained the ap- 
pointment of Rev. J. F. X. Pelletier of Quebec to undertake this 
task. The understanding was that he should temporarily hold 
special services for the French in St. Mary 's and afterwards pro- 
cure for them, w^ith the help, of course, of the English-speaking 
members, a separate church in another locality. Difficulties, how- 
ever, arose which caused a delay of eighteen months in the execu- 
tion of the projected separation. In the meantime Father Griffa 
took charge of the English-speaking members. Father Pelletier of 
the French, each division having its own time for Mass on Sun- 
days and thus necessitating a double renting of the pews. 

At last the trustees of St. Mary's accepted the terms of the 
trustees of the newly formed French corporation, and purchased 
for them Medas Hall, on the East Side, at a cost of $7,000, add- 
ing $500 cash to help them fit it up as a church. The French 
finally left St. Mary's Church in December, 1871, for what is 
now called St. Louis' Church. The congregation of St. IMary's 
has since been composed of English-speaking Catholics, mostly 
Irish or of Irish descent, and in 1877 comprised about one hun- 
dred and fifty families. 

The following w^ere assistants under Father Griffa : The Rev. 
J. B. Harrigan, who held over, as above stated from the time of 
Father Guerdet until June, 1868; Rev. Thomas Walsh, July, 

1868, to January, 1869, and who afterwards became Vicar-Gen- 
eral of the Diocese of Ogdensburg; Rev. Tobias Glenn, January, 

1869, to October, 1869; Rev. Richard W. Meehan, January, 1876, 
to March, 1876 ; Rev. James L. Meagher, from April, 1879, to the 
spring of 1882; Rev. John J. McLoghlin, from June, 1882, to 
November, 1884. 

Under Father Griffa the school and church societies flourished, 
especially the Father Mathew Temperance Society. He left here 
in 1885 to take charge of Chatham, N. Y. 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 191 

Rev. M. J. Fournier took charge in December, 1885, and dur- 
ing his pastorate the church steeple, now unsafe by decay and 
condemned, was taken down ; the church was renovated within 
and without, new stained glass windows, Stations of the Cross, 
statues and electric lights were installed and the Malcolm prop- 
erty adjoining the parochial residence purchased. This gave the 
church a full block on Cayuga street and a ninety-nine foot front- 
age on Seventh street, where it is expected a new church will in 
time be erected. In poor health, Father Fournier went South 
for a change of climate in November, 1901, and died December 17 
at Charleston, South Carolina. 

Under Father Fournier the assistants were the Eev. George S. 
Mahon, from December 20, 1866, to January 10, 1888; Rev. 
Daniel Doody, from Jamiary 22, 1888, to June 28, 1891 ; Rev. 
William Griffin, from July 4, 1891, to August 15, 1896. The 
Rev. John W. Farrar came May 26, 1897, and is still at St. 
Mary's; Rev. William H. McCormack was assistant about two 
months at the time of the sickness and death of Father Fournier 
and was transferred to St. John 's, Oswego, as assistant, when the 
assistant there, the Rev. Joseph A. Hopkins, was appointed to 
succeed Father Fournier at St. Mary's, January 2, 1902. Father 
Hopkins was born September 1, 1864, in Binghamton. He was 
ordained priest June 25, 1892, from St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, 
and was immediately assigned to St. John 's Cathedral, Syracuse, 
as assistant, where he remained until February 3, 1895, when he 
came to St. John 's, Oswego, and acted in a similar capacity until 
his appointment to St. Mary's. Since his pastorate began, the 
school has been increased in numbers both as to children and 
teachers. There are nine grades exclusive of the "baby room," 
which, owing to the lack of room in the school proper, is now in 
the Malcolm house. About 600 children are in charge of twelve 
Sisters. 

A free public library has been opened in the Malcolm house, 
which also has a large assembly room for society meetings. The 
church debt has been materially reduced and the school building 
renovated and improved. 

Messrs. J. J. White and Edward Monen are at present the lay 
trustees. There are about 675 families, nearly all of Irish or 
Irish descent. 



ST. LOUIS (French) 

THE French Church was founded in the year 1848, under the 
name of St. Mary's, by the Rev. F. C. Foultier. The 
building was completed and consecrated in 1850 by Cardi- 
nal McCloskey. Rev. James Keveny succeeded Father Foultier 
in 1857, but during the same year he resigned and the vacancy 
was filled by a French priest, the Rev. Joseph Guerdet. The Rev. 
Louis Griffa came to Oswego in 1856 in succession to Father 
Guerdet and in 1883 Rev. M. F. Foumier succeeded him. 

Little by little the English-speaking families became members 
of St. Mary's and the French and French-Canadians, seeing 
themselves outnumbered in their own church, had an understand- 
ing with the Irish by which the latter were to take full possession 
of the church and allow them $7,500. 

The French then purchased a large building located at the 
corner of East Fourth and Bridge streets, known as Medas Hall. 
This they converted into a church. This new congregation was 
incorporated April 5, 1871, as St. Louis' Church, and the build- 
ing was consecrated by Bishop John J. Conroy. The first pastor 
was the Rev. J. F. X. Pelletier, who came from Quebec. The 
first trustees were Messrs. Edward St. INIichael and Edward Lefe- 
bere. 

The successors of Rev. J. F. X. Pelletier were the Revs. A. 
Carufel, T. Forget, J. Charette, J. Chaput, J. J. (Chaput) Auger. 

Rev. J. J. Auger took possession of the parish February 17, 
1884, and died January 11, 1904. His successor was the Rev. J. 
W. Chauvin. Father Chauvin was born December 25, 1866, at 
Chateauguay, Province of Quebec, Canada. He made his theo- 
logical studies at Montreal Seminary and was ordained priest 
December 20, 1890. He became pastor of St. Louis' Church, 
January 25, 1904, but it was not until later, February 4, 1907, 
that he was incardinated into the Diocese of Syracuse. 

A magnificent convent and school was built in 1873 and was 
under the direction of the Sisters of St. Ann, Lachine, until June 
22, 1899. The school was closed from that date until September, 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 193 

1905, when it was put in charge of the Sisters of the Holy Names 
of Jesus and Mary. Two hundred and twenty pupils are in 
regular attendance. 

In 1887 a handsome pastoral residence was purchased. The 
church possesses an unusually remarkable organ, which cost 
$5,000. 

Of the four hundred families of French descent, dispersed 
throughout the city, three hundred attend St. Louis ' Church. 



. ST. PETER^S (German) 

THE history of St. Peter's, the German Catholic Church of 
Oswego, commences with the year 1863. Previous to the 
organization of this parish the German Catholics of this 
city attended St. Mary 's Church. In the year named several well- 
known and influential Germans, having the required permission, 
decided to build a church of their own. A meeting was called 
and plans laid out for the erection of a suitable edifice. Towards 
the latter part of the year ground was broken on "Oak Hill" 
and the building begun. On December 6 the church Avas for- 
mally dedicated by the Rev. Leopold Mozygemba, Commissary 
General of the Minor Conventuals of Syracuse, delegated by the 
Rt. Rev. John McCloskey, Bishop of Albany. 

The dedication services were attended by a large concourse of 
people. The church was placed in charge of the Franciscan 
Fathers, and everything went well during their administration. 

In the year 1866, the people, realizing the importance and 
necessity of religious education and training for their children, 
resolved to erect a school. During the same year the school and 
convent were built. The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Fran- 
cis had charge of the school, which numbered about one hundred 
and fifty pupils on its register. 

In 1864 Rev. Oderik Vogt assumed charge of the parish and 
remained about a year. His successor was Rev. Leopold Mozy- 
gemba, 0. M. C, who in turn was followed by other priests of 
the same order, among whom was Rev. Fidelis Dehm, 0. M. C, 
afterwards a Bishop in Roumania, Europe; Rev. Clement Luitz, 
0. M. C, and Rev. Joseph Lesen, 0. M. C. They continued their 
labors among the German Catholics till the year 1870, when the 
church passed into the hands of the secular clergy. 

The first secular priest in charge was the Rev. Joseph Otten- 
hues, now of the Holy Cross Church, Albany. He remained 
about a year and was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Zucker, who, 
after four years of successful administration of affairs, was 
obliged to relinquish his charge because of poor health. Then 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 195 

came Rev. Joseph Herman Wibbe, who remained nearly ten 
years. He was a pious and zealous priest and labored assiduously 
for the good of the church and people. In 1883 he was appointed 
pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Schenectady, N. Y. 

Rev. Stephen A. Preisser of Albany took charge of the parish 
on December 7, 1883. During his incumbency many improve- 
ments were made, and the entire debt on the property was paid. 
During his administration the church enjoyed its period of great- 
est prosperity. It was on this account that the parish was raised 
to an irremovable rectorate by the Bishop. Father Preisser, after 
ten years of ardent labor, went to St. Joseph's (German) Church, 
Syracuse. 

The next in order among the priests of the church was the Rev. 
Adolph Geyer, who came in 1893 from New York. He was 
shortly afterwards succeeded by Rev. Edward Stark. 

In 1895 the Rev. Joseph Lechner was appointed pastor. For 
six years he successfully managed the affairs of the parish, when, 
because of his meritorious activity, he was transferred to a larger 
field of labor. He is now pastor of St. Mary's Church, Utica. 

His successor was Rev. George S. Heisler, the present pastor, a 
native of the parish. Born in 1871 within the limits of his pres- 
ent charge. Father Heisler received his early education in its 
school. His studies for the priesthood were made in the Troy 
and Rochester seminaries. Ordained June 11, 1898, his first ap- 
pointment was as assistant in the Church of the Holy Apostles, 
Rochester, where he served from July 2 of that year until April 
2, 1899, when he was assigned to St. Joseph's (German) Church, 
Oneida. He remained in the latter parish until his appointment 
in 1901 to be pastor of St. Peter's. 



ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST 

ST. JOHN'S parish was formed from the original parish of 
St. Mary's in 1869. Rev. John F. Lowery, at that time as- 
sistant priest at St. Paul's, was appointed by Bishop Con- 
roy of Albany to organize the new parish. Father Lowery com- 
menced his work with great earnestness and called a meeting of 
his parishioners in Dunn's Hall, corner of West Fifth and Erie 
streets. In this building the first Mass was said. It was well 
attended, particularly by men who showed themselves willing to 
co-operate with their young pastor. 

The location selected for the new church was the vacant lot 
situated between Third and Fourth streets on the south side of 
Erie. This lot was purchased for $7,500, but a generous dona- 
tion of $1,600 from Mr. and Mrs. Carrington, of whom it was 
purchased, made the actual cost $5,900. 

A temporary church, destined soon to be a parochial school, 
was begun August 17, and soon completed at a cost of $4,875. 
The new brick church was commenced in the spring of 1870 and 
the cornerstone was laid with appropriate ceremonies July 10 of 
that year. The interior of the church was finished and ready for 
use November 12, 1871. The dedication occurred July 14, 1872. 

The temporary church was remodeled for a school-house and 
the Sisters of St. Joseph engaged as teachers. The building was 
destroyed by fire in 1875 and the school was then discontinued. 

Father Lowery was with St. John's parish until 1875, when he 
was transferred to the missions of Fonda and Johnstown. He 
labored diligently and well and when he left Oswego the parish 
was well organized and he took with him the love of all his peo- 
ple. 

He was succeeded by Rev. Daniel 'Connell. He, too, worked 
untiringly and his capability and brilliancy fitted him to lead in 
public affairs. He held the office of president of the Board of 
Education and took great interest in the Catholic children and 



CITY OF OSWEGO. 197 

teachers of the city. In 1886 lie was sent to Cooperstown and 
Rev. Martin J. Hughes took his place in Oswego. 

To the zeal of Father Hughes must be attributed the erection 
of St. John's Assembly Hall, a fine structure used by the parish 
for entertainments, society rooms, library, and gymnasium. This 
building cost $25,000. Father Hughes was transferred to St. 
Mary's, Binghamton, and the present pastor of St. John's, Rev. 
"W. F. Dwyer, succeeded him. 

Father Dwyer, who is a native of Truxton, N. Y., was born 
March 17, 1861. He was ordained priest from Troy Seminary, 
December 17, 1887. His first appointment was as assistant at St. 
John's Cathedral, Syracuse, where he remained until January 
18, 1888, when he went to St. Mary's, Binghamton, in a similar 
capacity, staying there until his appointment to St. John's, Au- 
gust 4, 1892. 

The parish had now grown so greatly that it became necessary 
to have an assistant. With such an appointment the celebration 
of a children's Mass became possible and the need was shown 
from the attendance, which from the first numbered about 700. 

Rev. Joseph A. Hopkins was the first assistant and served six 
and one-half years, becoming pastor of St. Mary's January 2, 
1902. Rev. William H. MeCormick, the present assistant, was 
then assigned to St. John's. 

St. John 's people are worthy of Irish descent and their pastors 
have been of the same nationality. The number of families is 
737 and of souls 3,127. 

The members of the congregation show true Catholic faith, an 
active interest in their church and a willingness to help their pas- 
tors in their arduous duties. 



ST. STEPHEN'S (Polish) 

DURING the summer of 1909 a congregation for Polish 
Catholics was organized in Oswego and incorporated as 
St. Stephen 's Polish Catholic Church. The Rev. Francis 
Rusin, pastor of the Sacred Heart (Polish) Church, Syracuse, is 
named in the incorporation papers as the pastor of St. Stephen 's, 
and it is under his direction that the congregation is planning to 
erect a church on the site purchased some time ago. 

Services are held at present in a hall on the West Side and are 
conducted by the Rev. Stephen Plaza, who has been an assistant 
at the Sacred Heart Church, Syracuse, the past year and a half. 



CLEVELAND 

PRIOR to the year 1838, the few Catholics in the vicinity of 
Cleveland (Black Creek) were probably visited by a priest 
from Utica ; thereafter for upwards of thirty-five years 
they were attended from Rome by Rev. William Beecham or his 
assistants, who came monthly to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the 
Mass. In March, 1853, Father Fitzpatrick, assistant at Rome, 
purchased a site and within a year erected the present church at 
Cleveland. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin under the title 
of the Assumption by the Very Rev. E. P. Wadhams, Vicar- 
General of the Diocese of Albany, afterwards Bishop of Ogdens- 
burg. 

About November 1, 1873, St. Mary's parish was organized with 
the Rev. Patrick J. Birmingham, a native of Ireland, as the first 
pastor. Later a parochial residence was secured, through the 
generous co-operation of the faithful. In October, 1878, Father 
Birmingham was transferred to Florence, where, on August 24, 
1883, he ended his labors. 

The late Rev. Francis D. McGuire, a gentle and energetic Syra- 
cusan, who was afterwards rector of the Albany Cathedral, then 
took charge, and before he left succeeded in notably reducing the 
church debt, while considerably improving the church property. 
In July, 1882, he was relieved by the Rev. James B. Green, a 
warm-hearted son of Erin. In 1886 Rev. John J. McGlynn, like- 
wise a native of Ireland, ordained in 1883 at an advanced age, 
became the fourth pastor of Cleveland. He labored assiduously 
in beautifying the house of God ; his charity and devotion are not 
yet forgotten. Transferred to Sherburne in October, 1894, he 
passed to his reward in November, 1902. 

The departure of Father McGlynn from Cleveland afforded a 
field for the zeal of the Rev. John B. Mertens, a priest of Flemish 
extraction, who had arrived in America but a few months pre- 
vious. Father Mertens was born November 30, 1862, in Teral- 
phene, Belgium, and received his education in the schools of his 
native country and in England. He was ordained at the Cathe- 



200 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

dral at Leeds, England, April 5, 1891. His service at St. Mary's 
commenced September 24, 1894. 

Before his youthful ardor the remnant of the church debt soon 
disappeared. Needed improvements have since been gradually 
made and a neat cemetery has been added to the church property. 

The erection of a more suitable church edifice is now contem- 
plated. This parish covers nearly 200 square miles, extending 
from Sylvan Beach to Caughdenoy. It includes the missions of 
North Bay, Little France and Sylvan Beach, and stations at Cen- 
tral Square and Constantia, which are periodically visited by 
Father Mertens, who still clings to his first charge. North Bay 
and Sylvan Beach missions are located in Oneida County and 
are described under that county caption. 



LITTLE FRANCE 

Among the oldest Catholic settlements in this part of the Em- 
pire State is to be numbered the congregation of Little France. 
In the year of our Lord 1837 the first Mass was said in a barn 
owned by Xavier Piquet. The celebrant was Rev. Michael Heas 
of Syracuse. Among those present were the Brassard, Piquet, 
Becancon, Mohats, Fevea and Tackley and other families. Mass 
was said only twice or three times a year. In 1839 Rev. F. C. 
Foultier of Oswego came and said Mass in the school-house. 
There were then about twenty families in the congregation. As 
the priest could but seldom come, the good people would gather 
together on Sundays and hold Catholic devotional services. 

Rev. Joseph Guerdet of Oswego attended the people for a short 
time until Rev. Father Lafayette, a Canadian priest, came and 
built a neat church on the plot of land donated by Mr. Brassard. 
The first Mass was said in the new church by the indefatigable 
Father Lafayette in May, 1855. 

Rev. Father Wieting, a German priest, was the next pastor; 
then came in succession Rev. Fathers Fidelis, Joseph, Anthony, 
Graziani, Albert, Otto and Ambrose, all Franciscan Fathers, sent 
from Syracuse. Rev. L. G. Plamondon was the pastor for a time, 
then Rev. John McGlynn for six months. Following him came 
the Rev. J. B. Mertens, the present pastor. 

The congregation numbers at present about thirty families. 



FULTON 

THE first Catholic service in Fulton was held about the year 
1850, when the Rev. Michael Kelly, then pastor of St. 
Paul 's Church, Oswego, gathered together fifteen or twenty 
of the faithful in an old mud-colored house, and there said the 
first Mass, and formed the nucleus of the present congregation. 
From that time until 1854 Father Kelly occasionally celebrated 
Mass at Mr. Donnelly's or over a store in First street, and subse- 
quently in Pond 's Hall. 

In January, 1854, as the Catholics had become materially 
strengthened by the advent of a few families, it was deemed ex- 
pedient to have a priest of their own, and accordingly the Rev. 
James Smith was appointed by Bishop MeCloskey of Albany to 
take charge of the flock. 

The congregation continued its services in Pond's Hall for 
about two years, when it moved into Empire Hall, which oc- 
cupied the site of the Midland depot. There it remained for 
about two years, when a purchase was made of the premises lo- 
cated on the corner of Third and Rochester streets, formerly oc- 
cupied by the Fulton Female Seminary. The old building was 
fitted up as a place of worship and in 1858 was dedicated to the 
service of God by the Bishop of Albany. 

The congregation continued to worship in the old church until 
the new Church of the Immaculate Conception was built and 
dedicated to the service of God by the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, 
D. D., Bishop of Syracuse, March 10, 1895. It was through his 
counsel and encouraging words that the work was commenced on 
October 9, 1888. The foundation stone was laid by A. N. Culkins. 
It was a rather difficult undertaking at the time, as the mem- 
bers of the congregation were all poor, depending solely for their 
support on the woolen mill. There were a few other Catholic 
families scattered throughout the outlying country and they 
helped in the good work. 

All gave what aid they could, coming like one man to excavate 
the basement, draw building material and grade the grounds. 



202 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

The work they and their teams did was invaluable at the time, as 
there were no funds to draw upon. 

When the church walls were up and the roof put on, the fac- 
tory shut down and remained so for over two years. Many peo- 
ple left and sought employment elsewhere and work was stopped 
for want of funds. The congregation did not appeal to their 
neighbors for aid, but kept on caring for what was done and do- 
ing what little grading and finishing it could while awaiting the 
music of the looms again. 

The factory changed hands and the greater part of it was re- 
built and furnished with new machinery. The wanderers re- 
turned and work on the church was resumed again, under the 
careful supervision of the late Father Kearney. 

March 10, 1895, was a memorable day for the congregation of 
the Immaculate Conception, Fulton, when the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
Ludden dedicated the new church and administered the Sacra- 
ment of Confirmation to over 200 boys and girls. Crowds of peo- 
ple of all creeds gathered to witness the ceremonies. 

The church was built on the south side of Rochester and Third 
streets, on a lot owned and deeded to the congregation by the late 
Father Smith, together with $1,000 to help toward an altar. 

The parochial residence and barn, on the north side of Roches- 
ter and Third streets, were built on the most desirable location in 
Fulton. The property was secured by the late Father Smith. 
The present buildings are constructed of pressed brick with heavy 
limestone trimmings. They command the admiration of all visi- 
tors to Fulton, many of whom express great surprise when they 
learn that the poor Catholics own them. 

When Father Kearney was appointed the church property was 
worth about $6,000. The property as it now stands is worth 
$60,000. There is also a cemetery of about eleven acres, which 
cost time, labor and money to reclaim. The church has a seating 
capacity of 700. There are over 200 families in the parish, but 
the number varies accordingly as the large industries, such as the 
paper and pulp mills, the woolen mills and factories, are in opera- 
tion or not. 

The late Father Smith was a man of medium size, a truly pious 
priest. He lived in a little frame house on the lot where the 



CITY OF FULTON. 203 

church now stands. He attended to the spiritual wants of the 
Catholics of Baldwinsville, Phoenix, Mexico and Pulaski ; always 
ready, never flinching from duty whenever called. He continued 
doing good work until he had a slight shock of paralysis, about 
the year 1874, that necessitated the appointment of an assistant 
priest. His nephew, Rev. Bernard Smith, was sent to assist him 
and remained with him until death called him away, February 
16, 1876. He was succeeded by Rev. Richard Meehan in March, 
1876, who remained until November, 1877. 

Rev. Francis Cunningham came in December, 1877, and re- 
mained until September, 1878. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
James B. Greene, who was appointed pastor of Florence when 
the Rev. Patrick J. Kearney was sent by the late Rt. Rev. Francis 
McNeirny, D. D., to take charge of the Fulton parish, September 
14, 1879. He had as assistant the Rev. William J. Early from 
September 22, 1885, to March 26, 1894. The Rev. James Smith 
died on September 15, 1881. 

Father Kearney was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, and came to 
this country when thirty-nine years of age and for twenty-seven 
years was in charge of the Fulton parish. He was an earnest 
priest and a zealous toiler and not the least of his accomplish- 
ments is the beautiful church which will ever stand as a monu- 
ment to his patient industry. He died March 11, 1906, and after 
a short interval was succeeded by the Rev. John L. Lindsman, 
S. T. B. 

Father Lindsman was born in Deerfield, this diocese, March 31, 
1871. His studies for the priesthood were made at Montreal 
Seminary, from which he was ordained September 29, 1894. 
After two years post-graduate work at the Catholic University of 
America, "Washington, he was appointed assistant priest at St. 
Paul's, Oswego, where he served for ten years, or until his ap- 
pointment to Fulton. While enrolled as a student of the Catholic 
University, he was acting pastor of Baldwinsville, June 17-Au- 
gust 24, 1895. 

The Rev. David J. Dooling, a native of Syracuse, who was or- 
dained June 9, 1906, for the Diocese of Buffalo, was appointed 
June 23, 1906, to assist Father Lindsman. He was incardinated 
into the Diocese of Syracuse, August 6, 1906, and continued as 
assistant. Father Lindsman was then given charge of the mission 



204 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

at Phoenix, which had until that time been attended from Bald- 
wins ville. 



PHOENIX 

As far back as 1851 the Baldwinsville pastor used to drive to 
Phoenix and celebrate Mass in the home of Stephen Pendergast, 
where the few Catholics would assemble when the priest visited 
them. Mr. Pendergast died in February, 1879, leaving a large 
plat of ground and $2,500 for a church. The surviving members 
of the family, eight in number, contributed $2,500 more and built 
the handsome brick church, St. Stephen's, in which the family 
and a devoted congregation now worship. 

The first service held in the church was the funeral of Mrs. 
Anne Pendergast, who died the year after her husband. The 
requiem Mass was sung by the Rev. James O'Brien, now pastor 
of St. Mary's Church, Sandy Hill, N. Y. The late Monsignor 
John J. Kennedy of Syracuse preached the funeral sermon. 

The church was dedicated in 1880 by the Very Rev. P. A. Lud- 
den, V. G., of the Diocese of Albany, now Bishop of Syracuse, 
who preached on the occasion. The Rev. P. H. Beecham of Bald- 
winsville had charge of this little mission nineteen years and dur- 
ing that time he infused into his parishioners zeal for their 
church, and a strong and abiding love for the Catholic faith. 

St. Stephen's passed to the charge of the pastor of Fulton in 
August, 1906. 



PULASKI 

ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST parish, as constituted at the 
present time, has as out-missions St. Mary's of Altmar 
(Sand Bank), St. Joseph's of Boyleston, and St. Anne's of 
Colosse, and as stations Mexico and Selkirk, the latter a pleasure 
resort on Lake Ontario, being attended only during the summer 
months. 

The site on which St. John 's Church is built was purchased in 
1884 by the late Rev. Patrick H. Beecham, who was, in 1876, 
appointed first pastor of Camden (Oneida County), with Pulaski 
and Sand Bank, Sandy Creek and Williamstown as missions. 
Father Beecham was succeeded in March, 1886, by the late 
Father J. J. Brennan, who served until August 30, 1887, when 
the Rev. John H. McGraw, now pastor of Clayville, was ap- 
pointed. 

The parish of Pulaski was incorporated April 12, 1888, with 
the villages named as out-missions, and in the course of the year 
the church was built. 

The Rev. John M. Varrilly was appointed first pastor and 
served until June 12, 1891, when he was succeeded by Rev. 
Charles Zotique Durocher. Father Durocher was born October 
15, 1848, at St. Martin, Laval County, Canada. He was ordained 
at Ottawa, Canada, June 3, 1871, and for the next ten years was 
prefect of studies at Ottawa College. He served until 1889 in 
various capacities in Montreal and Quebec and on June 12, 1891, 
was incardinated into the Diocese of Syracuse and assigned to 
Pulaski, where he remained in charge until his death, May 3, 
1899. Father Varrilly is now in the Diocese of Springfield. 

The present pastor, the Rev. Theodore Provost, was appointed 
some three months later. Father Provost was bom February 6, 
1871, at Varennes, Province of Quebec, Canada, and was educated 
for the priesthood at the Seminary of Our Lady of Angels (Ni- 
agara), where he was ordained priest, June 8, 1895. Before com- 
ing to this parish he served as assistant at St. Patrick's, Utica, 
from June 15, 1895, to October 15 of the same year, when he was 



206 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

transferred to St. Paul's, Whitesboro, where he served in the 
same capacity until July, 1899. 

During the eighteen months following the death of Father 
Charles Durocher, Bishop Ludden committed to the temporary 
charge of Father Tieman of Camden, the missions at Altmar 
(thus changed from Sand Bank by the K, W. & 0. R. R. authori- 
ties), Richland, Sandy Creek, Lacona and Boyleston. 



ALTMAR 



In Altmar the first Mass was said by Rev. John Ludden in 
1867 at the home of James Buckley. Hither "Father John" 
came once or twice a year up to 1876, when the village had passed 
under the jurisdiction of Rev. Patrick H. Beecham of Camden, 
It was regularly attended by the Camden priests until 1890, when 
it passed to the jurisdiction of Father Durocher. During that 
time and down to 1889, Mass was said in the drug store and Cot- 
tage Hotel halls. In 1889, after the death of Father Durocher, 
Father Tiernan of Camden took charge, opening his work here 
by a mission given by Father Gannon, a Redemptorist. Mass 
was said in John Brown's Hall, over the drug store, on the 
altar formerly used by the priests at Williamstown. The Cath- 
olics of Altmar, numbering seven families, desired a little church 
of their own, and, being encouraged and directed by their 
temporary pastor, sprang so nobly into the undertaking that, 
after eighteen months, when Father Tiernan retired, he turned 
over into the hands of the treasurer of the building committee, 
James Buckley, $538.60, and a subscription of nearly $600 — a 
working capital of upwards of $1,000. The church was built and 
ready for Mass in November, 1901, all out of debt and costing up 
to that time $1,200. It was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Bishop Lud- 
den during the pastorate of Father Provost, May 30, 1902, under 
the title of St. Mary's of the Immaculate Conception. 



BOYLESTON AND COLOSSE. 207 

BOYLESTON 

St. Joseph's Church, built in 1880, situated on the State road 
in the town of Boyleston, on the site of the winter encampment of 
the army of General Billette, in his overland march on Fort Stan- 
wix in 1757, was built through the influence of the prominent 
Lenore family. Many French families, as well as Irish, settled 
there at one time, and up to the time of the appointment of 
Father Varrilly as the first pastor of Pulaski, about the year 
1887, was attended by priests from Oswego, notably by Father 
Auger, pastor of St. Louis' Church of that city. When Father 
Tiernan came to Boyleston, opening his work there with a mis- 
sion in June, 1899, and investigating the financial condition of 
their church, he found the little structure seriously encumbered 
by claims to the amount of more than $700, with about thirty-five 
poor families to shoulder the burden. In 1900 $258 was raised by 
subscription and applied on the debt. December 20, 1900, the 
mission reverted to the charge of Pulaski and under Father Pro- 
vost 's care has come again into sound financial condition. 



COLOSSE 



St. Anne's Church, Colosse, was built during the year 1854. 
The little congregation was visited occasionally by priests from 
Oswego and the neighboring missions until April 12, 1888, when 
the parish of Pulaski was formed with Colosse as one of its out- 
missions. The Catholic families of the village are of French and 
Irish descent. Mass is said at stated times by Father Provost. 



WILLIAMSTOWN 

THE first priest to say Mass in Williamstown mission was 
Father Kinney of Oswego, in 1843. It was celebrated at 
the home of John Murphy in a log house on the Wolder 
farm, near the town of Albion. At long intervals after that came 
priests from Florence — Fathers Kelliher and FitzPatrick. Later, 
in 1855, came Father John Ludden of Florence, who said Mass at 
stated intervals in the school-houses, homes and halls in and about 
Williamstown. In 1870, when the tannery and the lumber busi- 
ness opened up the large tracts of forest lands to the north 
of Williamstown, many Catholic families, chiefly of Irish and 
French descent, came from Canada and settled there. The largest 
tannery in the State, operating 375 vats, was located at Williams- 
town. 

The remains of the Maple Hill postoffice, located by the tram 
railway, which extended from Williamstown to within three miles 
of the village of Redfield, are still visible. Nearby stood the great 
lumber camp and saw-mill of the Comstock Brothers of Utica, 
who shipped their lumber to the builders of New York City. 
Nearly 2,000 men were at work here. In a school-house nearby 
Father Ludden often said Mass. On a knoll just outside (tradi- 
tion points the spot) , Father Ludden, for the want of room for 
the sponsors in the log school-house, baptized on one occasion 
twenty-three children. 

The first Mass celebrated by Rev. Patrick H. Beecham in Wil- 
liamstown was in a hall over a store, since burned down. From 
1876 to 1884 Mass was said in this store hall and in Sage's Hall 
by Father Beecham, who completed the building of St. Patrick's 
Church in the latter year. 

Williamstown has been attended from Camden (Oneida 
County) since the formation of that parish in 1876. 



Redfield Square, Oswego County, is a station of Florence, 
Oneida County. 



ONEIDA COUNTY 



UTICA 

THE FOURTH CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE STATE OF NEW 
YORK AND THE FIRST IN THE DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE, 
SUBSEQUENT TO THE EARLY MISSIONARY PERIOD, WAS 
ERECTED IN UTICA, IN 1819, FOR THE CATHOLICS OF CEN- 
TRAL AND WESTERN NEW YORK. 

ST. JOHN^S CHURCH 

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, Utica, claims the distinction of being 
the oldest church in the Diocese of Syracuse, and the 
fourth Catholic church erected in the State of New York. 

Of course this does not include the churches built by the 
French missionaries among the Indians, more than a century 
previous. There is no record of where the first Mass was said in 
Utica, but it was very probably in the home of John C. Devereux 
who lived in those days at the comer of Broad and Second 
streets. 

Rev. Paul ]\I. McQuade was the pastor of St. i\Iary's Church, 
Albany, from 1813 to 1815. Utica at that time was a mission 
attended from time to time from Albany. John C. Devereux was 
a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Mary's Church, Albany. 

In the traditions of the parish it has been handed down that 
Father McQuade said Mass frequently in Mr. Devereux 's house 
and there is little doubt that the very first Mass was said by the 
same priest and in the same place. 

Rev. Michael 'Gorman became pastor of St. Mary's Church, 
Albany, in 1817 and attended Utica regularly until 1819. He 
founded St. John's church January 25, 1819, where at a meeting, 
held under his direction, of all the Catholics of Utica and vicnity, 
it was decided to erect a church for Central and Western New 
York. As there were but few Catholics at that time between 
Albany and Buffalo, it was determined to build one church to 
supply the needs of all, and Utica was selected as the place of 
its erection. A corporation was duly formed, under the name 



CITY OF UTICA. 211 

of the "Trustees of the first Catholic Church in the Western 
district of New York. ' ' 

The first trustees of the church were John C. Devereux and 
Nicholas Devereux of Utica, John O'Connor of Auburn, Morris 
Hogan of New Hartford, Oliver Weston of Johnstown, Thomas 
McCarthy of Syracuse, John McGuire of Rochester, and Charles 
Carroll of Genesee River. Judge Morris S. Miller, one of the 
pioneers of Utica, donated the site. The original deed dated 
May 13, 1819, is still in the archives of the church. 

The population of the village at that time was 2,500. The 
resident congregation did not exceed thirty-five. After sowing 
this little seed in Utica, which was destined to multiply so many 
hundredfold. Father 'Gorman returned to New York to assist 
Bishop Connolly. He died November 25, 1824, at the early age 
of 32 years. 

Rev. John Farnan was appointed the first resident pastor of 
St. John's Church. He said Mass in Utica for the first time 
Sunday, March 21, 1819, in the Academy. Father Farnan went 
to work with great earnestness to erect the new house of worship. 
After two years the little church was enclosed and fit for use, 
although it was two more years before it was entirely finished. 
It was a pretty Gothic structure, 45 by 60 feet, surmounted by 
a low spire, and painted white. 

It was dedicated by Bishop Connolly August 19, 1821. This 
event was something remarkable in those days, as it was the first 
time that a Catholic Bishop had been seen in this part of the 
world. Father Farnan was succeeded by Rev. Richard Bulger, 
who was pastor from February 1, 1823, until July 6, 1824. 

Rev. Charles Brennan was pastor from December 1, 1824, till 
August 31, 1825. 

Rev. John Shanahan was by far the most distinguished pastor 
of the earlier days. His pastorate dating from August 31, 1825, 
marks a new epoch in the history of the parish. Father Shana- 
han opened the first baptismal and marriage register, August 
31, 1825, and the old book is still in a splendid state of preserva- 
tion. Father Shanahan enjoyed the unique distinction of being 
the only priest ever attached to the parish who lived long enough 
to be able to see the first, second and third churches erected on 
the same site. 



212 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

When he took charge of the parish the population was about 
5,000. The village was bounded on the north by the Mohawk 
River, on the south by Elizabeth street, on the east by Third 
street, on the west by Broadway. Beyond these limits was a 
wilderness. There were at that time but sixteen Catholic families 
in Utica. 

When Father Shanahan first presided over the little parish 
the old stage coaches were running between Albany and Buffalo. 
It was during his pastorate that the great waterway which binds 
the ocean to the lakes was opened. When he died at the ad- 
vanced age of 78 years, he saw the railroad, destined to become 
perhaps the greatest in the world, paralleling this great artery 
of commerce — carrying its passengers almost on the wings of 
lightning, breakfasting them in the metropolis by the sea, and 
dining them on the shores of Lake Erie. At his death Utica 
was a growing city of 40,000 people, one-fourth of whom were 
Catholics, and two large and flourishing parishes had been 
formed out of the St. John's of long ago. 

Rev. Luke Berry was pastor from November 1, 1827, to De- 
cember 19, 1828. A strange accident happened during his pas- 
torate which made it necessary to postpone the beautiful cere- 
mony of confirmation, which was about to take place for the 
first time in Utica. Good Bishop Dubois had forgotten to bring 
the Sacred Chrism, and the sacrament could not be administered. 

Rev. Hatton Walsh was pastor from December 19, 1828, till 
November 24, 1829. During his pastorate the sacrament of con- 
firmation was administered for the first time in Central and 
Western New York. The class consisted of about a dozen boys 
and a dozen girls. The ceremony took place in the summer of 
1829. 

Rev. Philip J. M. 'Reilly of the Dominican Order was pastor 
from August 14, 1829, till November 30, 1830. It was during the 
pastorate of Father O'Reilly that the first Catholic cemetery 
was laid out in Utica. Previous to the year 1830, Catholics had 
been obliged to bury their dead in unconsecrated ground. The 
only record of a Catholic burying ground before that time was 
a small piece of ground near St. Joseph's Church, Oriskany 
Falls, which was donated to St. John's Church sometime in the 
twenties by Thomas Mooney, who was then secretary of the 



CITY OF UTICA. 213 

board of trustees of St. John's Church, Utica. Some of the 
Mooney family and a few of the early settlers are interred in 
this old cemetery. 

The first Catholic cemetery in Utica was located in Elm Grove 
between Elm and Steuben streets. It consisted of a little less 
than an acre. 

Eev. Michael Cummins was pastor from December 1, 1830, till 
March 25, 1832. It was during his pastorate that Utica ceased 
to be a village and became a full-fledged city, receiving a charter 
from the Legislature, February 13, 1832. 

Rev. James McCahill was pastor from May 8, 1831, till May 
11, 1833. It was during the pastorate of Father McCahill that 
Utica was visited by the Asiatic cholera, which swept over the 
country in 1832. Father McCahill 's labors during that fearful 
scourge, attending the unfortunate victims day and night, in 
the improvised hospitals in the Court House opposite the church, 
have been handed down in the traditions of the parish. There 
is preserved in the archives of the church in his own handwriting 
a list containing the names of fourteen of his little flock who 
died within three weeks during that dreadful epidemic, which 
carried off about seventy of the inhabitants of Utica. 

Rev. Francis O'Donogue assisted Father McCahill from July 
1 to August 15, 1832. Father McCahill never recovered from 
the fatigues incident to the cholera visitation. He returned to 
Ireland in May, 1833, where he died before the end of the year. 

Rev. Walter J. Quarter closes the roll of pastors of the first 
church. He was ordained in New York by Bishop Dubois, April 
28, 1833, and he began his long pastorate in Utica June 18th of 
the same year. His first attention was directed to the spiritual 
needs of the parish, and his first concern was for the children. 
Father Quarter had the honor of bringing to Utica the world- 
renowned Sisters of Charity, through the munificent generosity 
of John C. Devereux and his brother Nicholas, each of whom 
contributed $5,000 for their maintenance. They arrived in 
Utica from Emmitsburg, May 1, 1834. They opened simultane- 
ously an Orphan Asylum and a Girls' School, and they have 
ever since continued this twofold work in the parish. 

Now that Utica had put off its village smallness and was fast 
becoming a flourishing city, Father Quarter saw that it would 



214 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

be necessary to keep pace with the new order of things, and he 
began at once to take steps for the erection of a larger and 
handsomer church. The little old church which had served its 
purpose for upwards of fifteen years was removed across the 
street in the summer of 1835. It is still standing, though some- 
what altered in appearance, on the northwest corner of Bleeeker 
and John streets. It has ever since been devoted to commercial 
purposes. But even in its dilapidated condition it is a glorious 
landmark of Catholicity in Central New York — a living proof 
of that grain of mustard seed that was planted in this soil, less 
than a century ago, which has grown up and shot forth branches 
extending on the north to Canada's border and on the south and 
west to the very limits of the State. 

Rev. Patrick Bradley was assistant priest to Father Quarter 
for a time in the first church, his term extending from February 
1, 1835, till May 4, 1836. 



The cornerstone of the second church was laid by Bishop 
Dubois of New York, January 14, 1836. So rapidly was the 
work carried on that it was opened for worship, although in an 
unfinished condition, on Christmas of the same year. It was a 
plain brick edifice with a gable in front and a simple wooden 
cross. There was no tower or steeple, and the windows were of 
the plainest kind, and no attempt was made at decoration. The 
building cost about $20,000. It was considerably smaller than 
the present church, beginning a little back from the sidewalk 
, and extending only as far as the rear columns of the present 
edifice. The church was probably dedicated by Bishop Dubois 
on his visitation in the summer of 1837, although there is no 
record of the fact. 

Father Quarter labored assiduously in the parish during six 
years, half the time in the first, and the rest in the second 
church. He was very successful in raising funds for the com- 
pletion of the new church, and by his zeal and piety he won 
the esteem and love of all his people. Upon leaving Utiea he 
did good missionary work in New York for a few years. When 
his brother was appointed the first Bishop of Chicago, November 
28, 1843, he accompanied him to that city and was appointed 
Vicar-General of the new diocese, and upon the death of his 



CITY OF UTICA. 215 

brother he became the administrator of the diocese until the 
appointment of the next Bishop. 

Rev. William Beecham was assistant priest to Father Quarter 
in the second church from December 23, 1836, to July 22, 1837. 
He was then appointed pastor of St. Peter's Church, Rome, and 
he labored on this arduous mission for over forty years. 

Rev. John Lewis Wariath was assistant priest for the Germans 
from June 6, 1837, to August 31, 1837. The Germans were not 
organized into a parish until four years later. 

Rev. Patrick McCloskey was assistant priest from June 27, 
1836, till January 13, 1839. Rev. David W. Bacon, who after- 
wards became the first Bishop of Portland, was assistant priest 
from January 13, 1899, till October 24, 1839. 

Rev. Francis Ferrall became pastor October 25, 1839. He was 
noted for his zeal and piety but his ministry was of short dura- 
tion. He died December 8, 1840. It is a curious fact that 
although this parish had been in existence for twenty-one years 
and eighteen priests had preceded him in ministering to the 
Catholics of Utica, Father Ferrall was the first priest to die in 
Utica, and the first whose remains were destined to remain in 
the citj^. He was buried in a private cemetery in the yard of 
St. John's Asylum, adjoining the church. His remains were 
removed and re-interred in St. Agnes' Cemetery, Utica, October 
6, 1886. Father John Loughlin, who afterwards became the 
first Bishop of Brooklyn, assisted Father Ferrall from November 
1, 1840, to January 3, 1841. Upon the death of Father Ferrall 
Rev. Thomas Martin, 0. P., was transferred from Newport and 
Schuyler and became pastor of St. John's Church, January 10, 
1841. He is described as "one of the most distinguished priests 
of the older generation." He organized the first temperance 
society in Utica and was noted for his zealous efforts in sup- 
pressing the frightful evils of drunkenness. He had the Con- 
fraternity of the Most Holy Rosary canonically erected in the 
parish by a diploma from Rome, dated July 19, 1842. 

As the little cemetery off Steuben street was now wholly in- 
adequate for the size of the parish, Father Martin purchased 
on June 3, 1844, in the name of the church, five acres of land for 
burial purposes. The ground forms a portion of the present St. 
Agnes' cemetery. 



216 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Rev. George MeCloskey was assistant priest to Father Martin 
from October 12, 1844, till June 1, 1845. His brother later on 
became Bishop of Louisville, and Father MeCloskey was made 
Vicar-General and President of the Seminary, which positions 
he retained until his death. 

Rev. Joseph Stokes became pastor May 11, 1845. His failing 
health made it impossible for him to carry out all his projects 
for the spiritual improvement of the parish. But in spite of 
his infirmities he accomplished one thing for which he deserves 
to be especially remembered. The parish had now been in 
existence for upwards of thirty years, and yet there was no 
parochial residence for the clergy. From the beginning the 
priests were obliged to board here and there at different houses 
in the parish, often in public hotels. The difficulty from the 
first had been that there was no convenient site that could 
be obtained. The lots donated for the first church covered only 
half the block on Bleecker street. All the lots in the rear of the 
church had come into the possession of Rev. Eleazor S. Barrows, 
a retired Presbyterian minister, noted for his extreme antipathy 
to the Catholic Church. He had erected upon the ground a 
residence for himself. Upon the death of Mr. Barrows in June, 
1850, Father Stokes managed to purchase from his heirs the 
house and all the adjoining lots, thus securing a much needed 
rectory, and making the church property run through from 
street to street. But Father Stokes never had the happiness of 
residing in the new rectory as growing infirmities compelled 
him to give up his charge in the following winter. During his 
pastorate Father Stokes had ten different assistant priests, viz: 
Rev. John McMenomy, July 13, 1845-September 1, 1845; Rev. 
William Howard, September 20, 1845-October 6, 1845; Rev. 
Daniel Cull, October 24, 1847-April 2, 1848 ; Rev. Hippolyte C. 
De Luynes, S. J., August 1, 1848-September 15, 1848; Rev. 
Thomas Ouellet, S. J., August 13, 1848-September 3, 1848 ; Rev. 
Patrick Caraher, October 15, 1848-January 20, 1850; Rev. 
Michael J. Kelly, July 1, 1850-September 1, 1850 ; Rev. Michael 
E. Clarke, October 28, 1850-June 15, 1851; Rev. William C. 
Coghlan, November 12, 1851-May 1, 1854. 

Rev. Francis P. McFarland opens the longest and one of the 
most important pastorates in the history of the parish. Francis 



CITY OP UTICA. 217 

Patrick McFarland was born in Franklin, Pa., April 16, 1819, — 
almost on the very day when this parish, destined to be sanctified 
by his zealous labors, had its birth. In the Providence of God 
new countries are evangelized by missionaries from other coun- 
tries, but in the course of time, native vocations spring up to 
meet the wants of the new kingdom brought to Christ. And 
so, whilst we shall never forget the debt of gratitude which we 
owe to that little band of Irish missionaries that planted the 
good seed in Utica, still we glory in the fact that Father Mc- 
Farland was the first product of our own soil — the first American 
pastor of St. John's Church. He came to the parish March 1, 
1851. 

The Utica of Father 'Gorman thirty-two years before, with 
its 400 houses and 2,000 people, had now become a thriving 
city with ten times that population, and the church had kept 
pace with the growth of the city. Father McFarland 's zealous 
labors among the people of St. John's crowned the glory of the 
second church. His work was lasting. He made an impression 
in the parish which remained long after the hallowed walls of 
the church, which he loved so well, had been razed to the ground. 
His memory is still green in Utica, the blessing which he left 
upon the church- still clings to it and long will his name be 
revered in the parish, which had the happiness of being the 
witness of his saintly labors. 

It was during Father McFarland 's pastorate that the Christian 
Brothers came to Utica. It was their first foundation outside of 
New York City. The beautiful school building on the corner of 
John and Elizabeth streets, which belongs to the church, was 
built during his pastorate. Assumption Academy for boys was 
opened September 1, 1854, and to-day its long line of graduates 
are found among the citizens of Utica and elsewhere in every 
walk and profession in life. The Solemn Jubilee of this institu- 
tion, which was celebrated May 15, 1904, with so much en- 
thusiasm, was a striking proof of what it has accomplished in 
the last half century. 

Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. Burke, the distinguished Bishop of 
Albany and one of the first pupils of the Academy, was the 
panegyrist on the occasion. Truly has the Blessed Founder of 
the Christian Brothers — St, John Baptist De La Salle — watched 



218 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

in Heaven over the work done by his faithful sons in Utica for 
Catholic youth. 

In order to meet the necessary requirements of the growing 
congregation Father McFarland purchased additional lots for 
burial purposes — thus extending the limits of St. Agnes' Ceme- 
tery. It was also during the pastorate of Father McFarland 
that the first mission was given in St. John's Church. It took 
place in the month of October, 1857. It was a memorable mis- 
sion, conducted by those celebrated Redemptorist Fathers — 
Fathers Walworth, Hewitt, Deshon and Baker. 

Father McFarland was the first pastor to reside in the old 
Barrows house, which was the new rectory, purchased by Father 
Stokes, and which stood nearly on the site of the present rectory. 
In the very midst of his labors the Bulls arrived from Rome, 
naming him the third Bishop of Hartford, Conn. 

''He carried from Utica," to use the words of the local news- 
paper of the day, "the love of every man, woman and child, 
Catholic or Protestant, who had known him during his residence 
here. ' ' He left for his new field of labor March 6, 1858. 

Besides Father Coghlan, who had assisted Father Stokes and 
remained afterwards with Father McFarland until he became 
pastor of Clinton, May 1, 1854, five other priests assisted Father 
McFarland during his pastorate, viz: Rev. James Smith, May 
1, 1854-April 1, 1855; Rev. Daniel P. Falvey, April 20, 1855- 
August 4, 1855 ; Rev. John McDermott, September 6, 1855-March 
9, 1856 ; Rev. Joseph H. Herbst, March 31, 1856-March 22, 1858 ; 
Rev. Joseph H. W. Maeyer, September 1, 1857-October 1, 1858. 
Rev. Thomas Daly served from April 25, 1858, to October 11, 
1881. 

Just as St. John's Church Avas beginning its long career, in 
the autumn of 1822, an Irishwoman with a babe in her arms, 
bade farewell to her native land and sailed away for free Amer- 
ica. The infant was Thomas Daly, who was destined to occupy 
so long a space in the development of this parish. Father Daly 
became pastor April 25, 1858. Under his administration a won- 
derful development took place. His first care, upon taking 
charge, was to complete and perfect the spiritual edifice, whose 
foundations had been so broadly and solidly laid by his saintly 
predecessor. The society of the Children of Mary was organized 



CITY OF UTICA. 219 

by him and placed under the direction of the Sisters of Charity. 
The society was organized December 8, 1858 — the very year of 
the apparition at Lourdes — and is still in existence and in a most 
flourishing condition. 

His next care was to provide a home for orphan boys, and 
under his direction the Christian Brothers opened an orphan 
asylum for boys in a portion of the school building, on the Feast 
of the Annunciation, March 25, 1862. Engrossed in spiritual 
works he soon found temporal concerns thrust upon his atten- 
tion, and calling for the exercise of his zeal and energy. 

The second church, which seemed altogether too large at the 
time of its erection, was now fast becoming inadequate for the 
increasing numbers of the congregation, aud he saw that it 
would be necessary to take immediate measures for the erection 
of a more spacious edifice. Mass was said in the second church 
for the last time on Sunday, June 8, 1868. On the following 
day the work of tearing down was commenced. And so the 
church from whose pulpit had been heard the learned and pro- 
found teachings of a Dubois — whose walls had resounded with 
the pov/erful, majestic and soul-thrilling eloquence of the lion- 
hearted Hughes — and through whose aisles had floated the soft 
sweet music of that gentle Prince of the Church — the beloved 
Bishop ]\rcCloskey — our first American Cardinal — this church of 
hallowed memories was soon levelled to the ground and passed 
into history. 

Following were the assistant priests to Father Daly in the 
second church: Rev. Patrick J. M. McGlynn, a nephew of 
Father Quarter, July 15, 1858-October 1, 1858; Eev. Eugene 
Carroll, October 10, 1858-December 1, I860; Rev. William F. 
Sheehan, now pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Watervliet, Janu- 
ary 20, 1861-November 23, 1861; Rev. Francis J. Purcell, the 
late pastor of St. Mary's Church, Skaneateles, November 23, 
1861-July 4, 1865; Rev. John McDonald, a nephew of the late 
Archbishop "Walsh of Toronto, and the first student of St. 
Joseph's Provincial Seminary, Troy, September 15, 1864- August 
26, 1866; Rev. Patrick F. Smith, August 26, 1866-March 4, 
1867; Rev. Bartholomew B. Grattan, March 17, 1867-July 5, 
1868. 



220 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

The cornerstone of the present St. John's Church was laid by- 
Father Daly, June 27, 1868. The sermon on the occasion was 
preached by Rev. Dr. Keating, pastor of Newport, N. Y. The 
papers and coins which had been placed in the cornerstone of 
the second church were found to be in a good state of preserva- 
tion, and were deposited, with the other articles, in the corner- 
stone of the present church. For a few years the congregation 
was compelled to make use of the Court House and the Sisters' 
School building as places of worship. The work was pushed as 
rapidly as possible, and, although not entirely finished, the new 
church was opened on Christmas, 1869, by Father Daly. 

It is a coincidence that the second church had been opened 
also on Christmas just thirty-three years previous. The old 
Barrows house which had served for a rectory for nearly twenty 
years was also torn down during the year 1869, and the present 
elegant and spacious residence for the clergy was constructed. 
"While this work was going on, Father Daly accepted the kind 
hospitality of Leslie A. Warnick, where he lived from April to 
July, 1869. Much to the joy and consolation of that good Cath- 
olic family their residence became, for the time being, a little 
church, and whilst baptisms and marriages and other sacraments 
were being administered in their house, they felt that God was 
close to them and that His special blessing was falling upon 
their quiet home that would remain with them during life. 

A house was subsequently provided for Father Daly at 58 
Mary street, where he resided until the completion of the new 
rectory. But, besides the building of the church and rectory, 
both of which works demanded so much of his attention, another 
task was imposed upon Father Daly. The accommodations for 
the orphan boys at the school building were found to be totally 
inadequate, and besides the Catholics of the city generally were 
beginning to appreciate more and more the opportunity pre- 
sented by Assumption Academy for a sound Catholic education, 
as well as the highest form of commercial and scientific instruc- 
tion. It became necessary, therefore, in the summer of 1869, 
to make provision for the orphan boys in another place, and a 
large and commodious building was erected on the corner of 
Rutger street and Taylor avenue. 

The Assumption Academy building was henceforward devoted 



CITY OF UTICA. 221 

exclusively to educational purposes, and the orphan boys were 
transferred to the new asylum, now known as St. Vincent's 
Industrial School. There was still another matter that occupied 
the attention of Father Daly while he was rushing the completion 
of the new church. It was his privilege to complete the work 
of his predecessors. Fathers Martin and McFarland, and secure 
a permanent resting place for the departed members of the 
parish. In 1871 he purchased that narrow strip of land running 
along the Gulf, from South to Pleasant street, and known as 
"the Farm." 

About this time St. Agnes' Cemetery Association was formed 
and Father Daly was one of the original trustees. The five 
acres of land belonging to the church which had been purchased 
for burial purposes in 1844, and the additional lots purchased 
by Father McFarland, were conveyed to this new corporation, 
and that portion of the farm bounded by South, Third, Arthur 
streets and the Gulf, was sold by the church to the trustees of St. 
Agnes' Cemetery Association. The remainder came into the 
possession of the Christian Brothers in 1866 when they pur- 
chased the Asylum property from Bishop McNeirny. 

Finally, the great day of Father Daly's life arrived. St. 
John's was dedicated October 2, 1872, by Rt. Rev, John J. 
Conroy, Bishop of Albany, assisted by the Coadjutor Bishop, 
Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny. Rt. Rev. Francis P. McFarland, 
Bishop of Hartford, the light of the second church, came back 
to preach the dedication sermon of the third. Among the 
Bishops present at the dedication was Rt. Rev. John Loughlin, 
Bishop of Brooklyn, one of the former assistant priests of the 
second church. 

Rev. William J. Smith was assistant priest to Father Daly 
during the first years of the construction of the new church, 
i. e., from June 28, 1868, till March 1, 1870. Rev. James M. 
Ludden, now pastor of St. John's Church, Albany, assisted 
Father Daly during the latter portion of that period, and re- 
mained with him for a few weeks after the dedication ; i. e., from 
March 13, 1870, till November 26, 1872. Following were the 
assistant priests to Father Daly afterwards, in the new church: 
Rev. Patrick J. Birmingham, November 1, 1872-January 1, 
1873; Rev. Luke G. O'Reilly, May 1, 1874- April 8, 1877; Rev. 



222 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

James L. Meagher, April 1, 1876-May 15, 1876; Rev. Edward 
A. Terry, June 24, 1876. 

After a couple of years Father Daly's health began to fail, 
and Father Terry was obliged to take almost entire charge 
of the affairs of the parish. After the departure of Father 
Meagher he was assisted in his laborious duties by Rev. John 
F. Mullany, LL. D., now pastor of St. John the Baptist Church, 
Syracuse, from May 24, 1880, till July 7, 1880, and by Rev. 
Patrick J. Brady from July 2, 1880, till July 9, 1880. In the 
summer of 1880 it became painfully evident that Father Daly's 
mental powers were breaking under the strain which had been 
placed upon them, and it was deemed advisable by the Bishop to 
appoint an acting pastor with full powers to administer the 
affairs of the parish. The choice of Bishop McNeirny fell upon 
Rev. James M. Ludden, then pastor of St. Mary's Church, Little 
Falls. Father Ludden had endeared himself to the people of 
St. John's during his incumbency, about a decade previous, as 
assistant priest, and the selection seemed a very happy one. 
Father Terry was transferred to St. Ann's Church, Albany, as 
pastor, September 21, 1880. A large portion of the congregation, 
however, were very much dissatisfied with the change, and clam- 
ored for the return of Father Terry. There is no doubt that 
Father Terry had become very popular, especially on account of 
his brilliant and very dramatic sermons, and his touching and 
pathetic funeral orations. But his admirers, who comprised 
most of the influential people of the church, seemed to have 
completely lost their heads and become crazed with a kind of 
hero-worship for the idol of their affections, and contrary to all 
Catholic principles they attempted to dictate to the Bishop in 
the exercise of his lawful authority in the appointment of 
pastors. 

Naturally things were made very disagreeable for Father 
Ludden. Many of the pewholders went so far as to withdraw 
entirely their support from the church, and frequented other 
Catholic churches in the city. As a consequence, the revenue 
gradually decreased, and it became very difficult, if not impos- 
sible, for Father Ludden to raise sufficient funds for the proper 
maintenance of the church and school. 

Meanwhile Father Daly had retired to Mt. Hope Retreat, 



CITY OF UTICA. 223 

Mt. Hope, Md., October 11, 1880, where, under the tender care 
of the Sisters of Charity, he spent the remainder of his days. 
He retained the title of pastor of St. John's until his death. 

For nearly a year and a half Father Ludden struggled 
against the peculiar difficulties of the situation, which continued 
even after all hope had been given up of the return of Father 
Terry. Finally the Bishop was invoked to bring this unpleasant 
state of things to an end. As a necessary condition for settle- 
ment the Bishop required the clear and explicit recognition of 
his Episcopal authority. A committee on behalf of St. John's 
congregation, in a letter dated January 27, 1882, to Rt. Rev. 
Francis McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, stated among other things, 
"That, if in the course of the discussion that has unfortunately 
arisen on this subject, any of us have given expression to any 
sentiment questioning your authority as Bishop, to appoint or 
remove the priests of the parish in accordance with the statutes 
governing the diocese, or to your authority or right to be obeyed 
as our Bishop, we hereby, in the most unqualified manner, re- 
tract the same. That there may be no doubt of the position we 
occupy in the matter, allow us further to say that we do now 
accept and recognize the Rev. Father Ludden in the position 
to which you have appointed him. ' ' 

Bishop McNeirny in his reply to this communication dated 
February 4, 1882, said : "The rights of the Ordinary being clearly 
and distinctly recognized, the Bishop will promptly take into 
consideration your petition, and grant every relief which the 
good of souls and the welfare of St. John 's parish can call for. ' ' 

Father Ludden acquiesced in the decision of the Bishop and 
was transferred to Albany as pastor of St. John 's Church, Febru- 
ary 18, 1882. Rev. James B. Greene, assisted Father Ludden 
from December 16, 1880, till May 12, 1881, and Rev. Joseph A. 
Lanahan from July 10, 1881, till February 18, 1882. 

Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, pastor of Warrensburgh, N. Y., was 
transferred to Utica and took up his duties as acting pastor 
February 18, 1882. As Father Lynch was an entire stranger in 
the parish, and as the people were tired of the distracted con- 
dition of the church, peace and order were soon re-established 
and confidence was revived. 

The new pastor's first efforts were directed towards the chil- 



224 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

dren. The Sisters of Charity had conducted a pay school in 
connection with their Orphan Asylum for nearly a half century, 
but the attendance was very limited. There had been a great 
falling off in the attendance at the Assumption Academy, and 
thus it had come to pass that with good Catholic schools in the 
parish, a majority of the children were attending the public 
schools. Additional Brothers were added to the teaching force 
for the boys and arrangements were made with the Superiors 
of the Sisters of Charity at Emmitsburg whereby each teacher 
would receive a certain fixed salary from the funds of the church. 

When these preliminaries had been settled it was announced 
that parochial free schools were now firmly established, and it 
was expected that all the children of the parish, unless there 
was some legitimate hindrance, would attend them. As a matter 
of fact, beginning with the fall session of 1882, there was a 
largely increased attendance in both the boys' and girls' depart- 
ments. Father Lynch next bent his efforts towards a reduction 
of the church indebtedness, which amounted to over $50,000. In 
a few years this pressing burden was materially decreased. 

Rev. Thomas Daly, who had been pastor of the church since 
December 25, 1869, died at Mt. Hope Retreat, February 5, 1885. 
His funeral took place from St. John's and was one of the 
largest and most impressive in the history of Utica. The eulogy 
was pronounced by Rev. John F. Lowery, LL. D., pastor of St. 
IMary's Church, Troy, and whose deep personal sorrow in the 
loss lent a touching pathos to his eloquent panegyric. The re- 
mains of Father Daly were tenderly laid to rest in St. Agnes' 
Cemetery, Utica, beside those of his father and mother. 

The following were Father Lynch 's assistant priests during 
his pastorate: Rev. Joseph A. Lanahan, February 18, 1882- 
January 16, 1883; Rev. William A. Ryan, January 16, 1883- 
June 24, 1885 ; Rev. John J. Toomy, January 16, 1883-May 15, 
1887; Rev. John F. Lovett, January 24, 1885-May 15, 1887; 
Rev. Antony Castelli, for the Italians, September 10, 1885-May 
15, 1887. 

The new Diocese of Syracuse was created November 26, 1886, 
and the Vicar-General of the Diocese of Albany, Very Rev. 
Patrick A. Ludden, was appointed the first Bishop, December 8, 
1886. Bishop Ludden was consecrated in the Church of the 



CITY OF UTICA. 225 

Assumption, Syracuse, May 1, 1887. He selected for his Vicar- 
General and rector of his Cathedral Father Lynch, who there- 
upon closed his connection with St. John's, Utica, and entered 
upon his new duties in Syracuse May 18, 1887. 

Rev. James J. Moriarty, LL. D., served as pastor from May 
18, 1887, till December 4, 1887. The labors of Father Moriarty 
in this church were of short duration. He came from St. John 
the Evangelist Church, Syracuse, which the new Bishop had 
selected for his Cathedral. With a deep appreciation of the 
responsibility of the task imposed upon him in presiding over 
the destinies of this important parish he was already maturing 
projects for its advancement and well-being when his light 
suddenly went out. Following were assistant priests during his 
pastorate: Rev. John J. Toomy, May 15, 1887, till June 10, 
1887 ; Rev. John F. Lovett, May 15, 1887, till June 24, 1887 ; 
Rev. John J. McGuinness, June 24, 1887, till December 4, 1887. 
Father Moriarty died December 4, 1887, at his residence corner 
Broad and Second streets, where he had taken up temporary 
quarters since coming to Utica. It was forty-seven years since 
a pastor of the church had died in Utica. His funeral took 
place from this church December 6, 1887. Bishop Ludden 
officiated, assisted by a large concourse of the clergy from various 
parts of the State. The eulogy was pronounced by his life-long 
friend, Rev. James H. McGean, of St. Peter 's Church, New York. 
And so passed away the nineteenth pastor. His pastorate was 
the shortest of all in the history of the parish. Yet he was long 
enough with the people of St. John's to enable them to recognize 
those sterling qualities of mind and heart that ennobled his 
passing presence, and will serve to keep alive his memory. Dur- 
ing the vacancy Father McGuinness continued as acting pastor. 
Rev. John V. Simmons assisted him from December 7, 1887, till 
January 9, 1888. 

Rev. Thomas F. Cullen was pastor from January 9, 1888, till 
May 9, 1891. Father Cullen was the first pastor who was born 
within the limits of the present Diocese of Syracuse. Even as 
Father McFarland was the first pastor who was the product of 
American soil, so Father Cullen was the first to spring from our 
State of New York. And more than this, he was a native both 
of the diocese and of its episcopal city. He took charge of the 



226 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

parish January 9, 1888. Coming in robust health and in the 
full vigor of manhood, thoroughly equipped for his task, burning 
with zeal for the salvation of souls, he threw himself into his 
work with an earnestness which gave promise of great results. 
Constantly conceiving and maturing plans for the spiritual wel- 
fare of his flock, his thoughts by day and night were for the 
betterment of his people. 

It was during the pastorate of Father Cullen that St. John's 
Church was designated by the Bishop as one of the very few in 
the diocese whose pastor would be henceforth what is called, in 
the language of the Church, an irremovable rector. As the 
parish was now in a condition to merit this marked distinction, 
and as in the eyes of the Bishop, Father Cullen possessed all the 
qualifications befitting the dignity, he was selected the first in 
the long line of pastors of the church to enjoy this high honor. 

But alas! the bright hopes that were built at the coming of 
Father Cullen were soon to be dashed to pieces. He was to sow 
the seed, but another was to reap the harvest. After presiding 
over the parish a little more than three years he was stricken 
down, and after a brief illness, expired in the rectory — the 
first priest to die in the parochial residence since the formation 
of the parish, nearly seventy-five years before. His funeral was 
the most imposing that ever took place from the church. Bishop 
Ludden officiated at the Pontifical Requiem Mass and the Vicar- 
General, Father Lynch, delivered the funeral discourse. He 
was buried in St. Agnes ' Cemetery in Syracuse. Father Simmons 
remained as assistant priest till January 22, 1888, and Rev. 
"William P. Quinn was assistant priest during the rest of the 
term of Father Cullen. 

Rt. Rev. Monsignor James S. M. Lynch, D. D., LL. D., was 
appointed pastor July 2, 1891. One of his first acts was to 
unite Assumption Academy with the Sisters ' Academy for Girls, 
and to have the joint institution incorporated by the Regents 
of the University of the State of New York, under the name of 
the Utica Catholic Academy. The charter is dated December 
9, 1891. The union of the two schools was effected without dis- 
turbing the autonomy of either, and provision was made for 
the holding of Regents' examinations in both academies. 

The church had now been built over twenty years but had 



CITY OF UTICA. 227 

never been entirely completed. Father Lynch now set to work 
to construct the twin towers, and to completely remodel and 
renovate the whole interior, taking away the unsightly galleries 
and erecting the present side chapels. A chime of ten bells, 
donated by various members of the congregation, was solemnly 
blessed by Bishop Ludden, March 18, 1893. Kev. William Liv- 
ingston of the Archdiocese of New York preached the sermon on 
the occasion. A marble memorial tablet containing the names 
of all the deceased Bishops and priests of the church was un- 
veiled November 25, 1893. Father Lynch preached a historical 
sermon on the occasion. 

The solemn re-opening of the church, after the improvements 
had all been completed, took place November 11, 1894. In the 
regrettable absence of the Bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev. Henry 
Gabriels, D. D., Bishop of Ogdensburg, was the celebrant of the 
Pontifical Mass, and Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. Burke, D. D., Bishop 
of Albany, was the preacher. Rt. Rev. Thomas J. Conaty, D. D., 
now Bishop of Monterey and Los Angeles, preached at the 
Vesper service in the evening. The late Rt. Rev. Bernard J. Mc- 
Quaid, D. D., Bishop of Rochester, preached at the blessing of the 
memorial pulpit, June 30, 1895. 

According to a law passed by the Legislature of 1895 the 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction was authorized to 
prescribe a special four years' course of study which would 
hereafter have to be taken by all candidates for admission to 
any training school for teachers in the State. In order to gain 
a still further recognition of the parish schools from the State, 
a uniform course of study that would fully meet the require- 
ments of this new legislation, was prepared, and it received the 
formal approval of Superintendent Charles R. Skinner, in a 
letter addressed to the principal of the Utica Catholic Academy, 
Father Lynch, June 17^ 1896. 

An elaborate celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the organ- 
ization of the parish and of the Silver Jubilee of the dedication 
of the church took place October 3, 1897. Rt. Rev. Patrick A. 
Ludden, D. D., was the celebrant of the Pontifical Mass. The 
sermon was delivered by Rev. John F. Lowery, LL. D., of Troy. 
Rt. Rev. Henry Gabriels, D. D., and Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. 
Burke, D. D., were present in the sanctuary. On the Feast of 



228 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

the Holy Name, January 14, 1900, the church was honored by 
the visit of His Eminence James Cardinal Gibbons, Archbishop 
of Baltimore. He celebrated the eight o'clock Mass and admin- 
istered Holy Communion to the members of the Holy Name 
Society, and afterwards preached an eloquent sermon on the 
Holy Name at the High Mass. 

The solemn consecration of the church took place December 
16, 1900. The ceremony was performed by Rt. Rev. Patrick A. 
Ludden, D. D. He also consecrated the new marble altar, which 
is the gift of James A. Murphy of Chicago, 111. The two side 
altars were consecrated by Rt. Rev. Henry Gabriels. The Most 
Rev. Sebastian Martinelli, D. D., Apostolic Delegate for the 
United States, was the celebrant of the Solemn Pontifical Mass. 
The preacher of the consecration sermon was the Rt. Rev. James 
A. McFaul, D. D., Bishop of Trenton. The Most Rev. IMichael 
A. Corrigan, D. D., Archbishop of New York, and Rt. Rev. 
Monsignor Joseph F. Mooney, Vicar-General, also of the Arch- 
diocese of New York, were present in the sanctuary. The Most 
Rev. Apostolic Delegate celebrated Pontifical Vespers in the 
evening, and the sermon was preached by Monsignor Mooney. 

An event took place in the church October 27, 1901, which 
on account of its rarity, if not uniqueness, is worthy of being 
put on record. At the request of Bishop Ludden the sacrament 
of confirmation was administered in St. John's Church by an 
Irish Bishop, on a visit to this country — Rt. Rev. John Clancy, 
D. D., Bishop of Elphin (Sligo). He also preached an eloquent 
sermon at the High Mass on the same day. 

A very interesting event took place September 7, 1903, which 
is worthy of mention in connection wdth the history of the parish. 
Previous to 1830 there was no Catholic cemetery in Utica, and 
Catholics were for the most part buried in secular burying 
grounds. At that time Nicholas E. Devereux donated to St. 
John's Church for the purposes of a cemetery about an acre of 
woods in Elm Grove, lying between Elm and Steuben streets, 
with a driveway leading to Steuben street. Burials took place 
in this cemetery until the purchase of St. Agnes' Cemetery in 
1843, after which it was gradually abandoned. The growth of 
the city demanding, the Common Council in March, 1896, or- 
dered a street laid out running directly through this abandoned 



CITY OF UTICA. 229 

cemetery and leading from Elm to Steuben streets. The bodies 
buried in the way of this new street were removed by order of 
the Common Council and re-interred in St. Agnes' Cemetery. 
The time now seemed to have come for the decent disinterment 
of the remaining bodies on the north and south sides of this 
new street, called Addington Place. Accordingly the work was 
accomplished in the summer of 1903 at the expense of St. John's 
Church. It was estimated that there were in all about six hun- 
dred bodies removed from the old cemetery and re-interred in 
St. Agnes' Cemetery. 

The trustees of St. Agnes' Cemetery had provided a suitable 
plot of ground for the burial, and the pastors of the city de- 
cided to erect a monument upon the spot, which has since been 
placed in position. 

The most recent celebration in the church was the Golden 
Jubilee of the Assumption Academy and of the coming of the 
Christian Brothers to Utica. The event took place on the Feast 
of St. John Baptist De La Salle, May 15, 1904. In the un- 
avoidable absence of the Bishop of the diocese, who was in Rome 
on his ad limita visit, Rt. Rev. Thomas M. A. Burke, D. D., 
Bishop of Albany, presided on the occasion. Bishop Burke was 
one of the first pupils of Assumption Academy, having entered 
the school on the opening day, September 3, 1854. He was the 
celebrant of the Solemn Pontifical Mass at the celebration, and 
he also preached the panegyric of the Saint and the Golden 
Jubilee sermon. 

Monsignor Lynch was born September 20, 1846, in Albany. 
His studies for the priesthood were made at St. Joseph's Semi- 
nary, Troy, where he was ordained June 11, 1870. His first ap- 
pointment was to St. John the Evangelist Church, Syracuse, 
where he served as assistant from June 15, 1870, till December 
25 of the same year, when he was given charge of the new parish 
of St. Patrick's, which, as assistant at St. John's, he had helped 
to organize. He left St. Patrick's, September 1, 1871, to become 
director of St. Joseph's Seminary at Troy. He was with the 
Jesuits in Canada from December 8, 1872, till June 1, 1873. He 
was pastor of Baldwinsville from May 1, 1874, till March 1, 
1875, when he became acting pastor of Amsterdam and North Al- 
bany. After seven months he again became director of St. Jo- 



230 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

seph's Seminary and remained in that capacity for five years, or 
until July 1, 1880, when he became acting pastor of St. Agnes' 
Church, Cohoes. February 1, 1881, till October of the same year, 
were spent with the Jesuits at Rochampton, England, and Fred- 
erick, Maryland. Then came the pastorate at Warrensburg, Oc- 
tober 1, 1881-February 18, 1882; St. John's, Utica, February 18, 
1882-May 15, 1887 ; Vicar-General and rector of St. John's Cathe- 
dral, Syracuse, May 15, 1887-July 2, 1891. On the latter date 
Father Lynch began his second pastorate at St. John's and 
shortly afterward he was made a member of the Papal House- 
hold, the first priest of the diocese to be so honored. 

Following is a list of the assistant priests during the second 
term of Monsignor Lynch as pastor: Rev. William P. Quinn, 
July 2, 1891-December 31, 1892; Rev. Charles McManus, i\Iay 
17, 1891-May 1, 1892 ; Rev. John E. Chapuis, May 6, 1892-Feb- 
ruary 21, 1893; Rev. Peter F. McCabe, February 16, 1903- 
December 20, 1893 ; Rev. William S. Lalor, March 6, 1893-Decem- 
ber 19, 1893; Rev. James M. Murphy, December 29, 1893—; 
Rev. Thomas N. Staunton, January 12, 1894-June 8, 1894; 
Rev. John Lunney, July 27, 1894-September 20, 1894; Rev. 
Patrick H. Poland, October 19, 1894-June 8, 1896; Rev. An- 
tony Castelli (for the Italians), November 1, 1894- August 1, 
1896; Rev. Michael J. Mara, June 12, 1896-August 7, 1899; 
Rev. Richard Purcell, October 25, 1899-January 19, 1903 ; Rev. 
Richard P. O'Connor, January 17, 1903 — . 

In concluding this brief sketch it need only be added that St. 
John's Church is now in a very prosperous state. The church 
now with the extensive improvements made on it and the rectory 
and the Assumption Academy building can certainly be valued 
at $200,000. With the exception of a trifling debt on the school 
building the entire property is free from all encumbrances. 
There are about 4,500 souls in the parish. Monsignor Lynch is 
ably assisted in the administration of the parish by his two very 
zealous assistants. Rev. James M. Murphy and Rev. Richard 
P. O'Connor. 

The roll of membership in the various associations shows a 
good healthy spiritual condition. With few exceptions all the 
children of the parish are attending the parochial free schools. 
There are seven hundred and fifty pupils registered in the Utica 



CITY OF UTICA. 231 

Catholic Academy in the different grades and among these about 
one hundred and sixty hold Regents' preliminary certificates 
and are registered at the State Capitol as academic students. 

The retrospect of this first church in the Diocese of Syracuse 
is consoling — the outlook for the future most promising. 



ST. JOSEPH'S (German) 

THE parish of St. Joseph's dates back to 1842 and the his- 
tory of the trials, the struggles and the triumphs of this, 
the second Catholic congregation of Utica, is of more than 
passing interest. St. Joseph's was organized at the beginning of 
the year 1842 and at the time was the only German Catholic 
Church between Albany and Buffalo. On June 4, 1843, St. Jo- 
seph was chosen patron of the church. The Rev. Joseph Prost 
was the first pastor. 

Father Prost had many difficulties to overcome, for during 
the first years there were many dissensions in the parish, of 
which not a few were caused by the actions of the trustees. 

The parish was administered by secular clergy until IMarch, 
1859, when the Franciscan Fathers (Minor Conventuals) as- 
sumed charge. 

The present church edifice (the third since the founding of the 
parish) was built in the years 1871-73 and is one hundred and 
eighty feet in length and ninety feet in width. It is of brick, 
with stone trimmings, carrying two large towers, which are easily 
visible from the surrounding country. 

In the sanctuary there is a magnificent altar of white Italian 
marble and Mexican onyx. 

The interior of the church has recently been remodeled and 
decorated ; new stained glass windows, portraying the life of our 
Lord, from the famous Tyrolese shops were placed in position, 
together with group stations of the Way of the Cross with figures 
three feet, ten inches high. A beautiful communion rail of white 
marble with brass gates and a pulpit of marble, onyx and brass, 
were also added. The aisles are laid with interlocking rubber 
tiling. These improvements were completed in 1907, at a cost of 
$30,000. 

For upwards of half a century St. Joseph's (German) Church 
has had its own school. Following the old German Catholic prin- 
ciple of "school first, church second," we find that while the 
church was a plain frame building, the school was a handsome 
brick building. This school, built in 1855, was entirely inade- 



CITY OF UTICA. 233 

quate, as the parish grew, to meet the demands made upon it, and 
the result is the present beautiful school building, which covers a 
space of fifty by one hundred feet, is three stories high, with 
eight large class rooms on the first two floors and a large hall in 
the upper story. The school is attended by 450 children, who are 
taught by the Sisters of St. Francis. The Sisters occupy a large 
brick convent in the rear of the church. 

The old school has been converted into a meeting hall for the 
various societies connected with the church. 

An important and much needed improvement was the building 
of a new priests' convent (begun in June, 1905, and completed 
in April, 1906), which adjoins the church, and is a handsome 
three-story, pressed-brick structure. It was built during the ad- 
ministration of the present pastor. 

St. Joseph's has a large and finely equipped church property, 
occupying the block between Columbia and Lafayette streets, and 
having a frontage of several hundred feet on each street. It is 
in the heart of the city, on streets traversed by the car lines con- 
necting Little Falls, Utica and Rome. The buildings are the 
church and parochial house connected with it, the large school 
building on Varick street, the convent of the Sisters, the assembly 
hall and the old parochial residence at the corner of Varick and 
Columbia streets, occupied since 1876 as the residence of the or- 
ganist and choir-master. The whole represents an outlay of more 
than $300,000, a fine testimony to the self-sacrificing spirit of a 
poor community. 

The clergy attending to the wants of the parish now are the 
Rev. Francis Lehner, 0. M. C, pastor, and his three faithful as- 
sistants. Revs. Marc Maser, 0. M. C, Cornelius Richartz, 0. M. C, 
and Roger Judge, 0. M. C. Father Lehner was appointed Janu- 
ary 22, 1905. 

The first pastor, Rev. Joseph Prost, served from April 30, 1842, 
to June 4, 1843. The pastors and assistants who followed him 
were : June 4, 1843, to July, 1844, Rev. Adelbertus Inama ; July 
18, 1844, to October 13, 1849, Rev. Florian Schwenninger of the 
Order of St. Benedict; October 20, 1849, to December 10, 1854, 
Rev. J. Arnold ; December 10, 1854, to April 22, 1859, Rev. Fried- 
rich John Constant Weber, rector pro tem. ; April 28, 1857, to 
May 15, 1857, Rev. Theodore Noethen ; May 15 to June 14, 1857, 



234 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Rev. Maurus Maria; June 21, 1857, to January 31, 1859, Rev. 
Gustavus Mietlinger; March 7, 1859, to March 27, 1859, Rev. 
Franciscus Maria ; to April 21, 1859, Rev. Leopoldus B. M. Moczy- 
gemba, 0. M. C. ; 1859, Rev. Ladislaus Maria Korten ; June 10, 

1859, to May 7, 1860, Rev. Dominic Messen, 0. M. C. : May 27, 

1860, to July 1, 1860, Rev. Clement Mutsaer, 0. M. C. ; July 1, 
1860, to December 2, 1860, Rev. Bonaventura Heller, O. M. C. ; 
December 2, 1860, to July 9, 1861, Rev. Ladislaus Maria Korten, 
0. M. C. ; July 10, 1861, to January, 1862, Rev. Pius Kotteiro, 0. 
M. C. ; January, 1862, to December, 1862, Rev. Leopoldus Moczy- 
gemba. Father Moezygemba was at this time commissary general 
for the Order of Minor Conventuals of North America. Rev. 
Oderic Vogt, Rev. Antonio Ronadowski and Rev. Clement Luitz, 
to September 14, 1862; Rev. Alphonsus M. Zoller, O. M. C, 1862 
Rev. Francis Neubauer, 0. M. C, June, 1864 ; Rev. Bonaventura 
Corney, 0. M. C. ; Rev. Caesar Cucchiarini, 0. M. C. ; Rev. Clem 
ent Luitz, 0. M. C, January 15, 1866 ; Rev. P. M. Joseph Lesen 
0. M. C. ; Rev. P. Alexis Bodenberg, 0. M. C. ; 1867, Rev. Clem 
ens P. Mutsaers, 0. M. C, Rev. P. Fidelis Dehm, O. M. C, Rev 
Peter Jachetti, 0. M. C, Rev. C. Cucchiarini, 0. M. C. ; 1868, Rev 
P. Oderic Vogt, O. M. C, Rev. Bonaventura Corney, 0. M. C. 
Rev. P. Norbert Stoller, 0. M. C. ; 1869, Rev. P. Bernard Etten 
sperger, 0. M. C. ; 1870, Rev. P. Bonaventura Heller, 0. M. C.^ 
pastor; 1872, Rev. P. Alphonsus M. Zoller, 0. M. C. ; 1873, Rev 
Patrick Delaney, 0. M. C, Rev. Bonaventura Heller, 0. M. C. 
Rev. Norbert Stoller, 0. M. C, Rev. Vincente Dumiovich, 0. M 
C. ; 1874, Rev. Anthony Gehring, 0. M. C, Rev. Oderic Vogt, 
M. C. ; 1875, Rev. Leonard Reich, 0. M. C. ; 1876, Rev. Oderic 
Vogt, pastor; Rev. Clement Luitz, O. M. C, Rev. Conrad Ellison, 
0. M. C. ; 1880, Rev. Fidelis M. Vogt, 0. M. C, Rev. Francis Neu- 
bauer, 0. M. C. ; 1882, Rev. Leonard Reich, 0. M. C, pastor: Rev. 
Louis M. Miller, 0. M. C, Rev. Bonaventura Zoller, 0. M. C, 
Rev. Bonaventura Doyle, 0. M. C, Rev. Alexis Rossbauer, 0. M. 
C, Rev. Angelus Goessmann, 0. M. C, Rev. Bernard Ettensper- 
ger, 0. M. C, Rev. Clement Luitz, 0. M. C. ; 1887, Rev. Lucius 
Matt, 0. M. C, Rev. Bonaventura Doyle, O. M. C, Rev. Albert 
Regensburger, 0. M. C, Rev. Ambrose Rheiner, O. M. C. ; 1892, 
Rev. Alexis Rossbauer, O. M. C, pastor; Rev. Conrad Ellison, 
O. M. C, Rev. Guido Epp, 0. M. C. ; 1895, Rev. Oderic Auer, 



CITY OF UTICA. 235 

0. M. C; 1899, Rev. Fidelis M. Vogt, 0. M. C, pastor; Rev. 
Oderie Auer, Rev. Bernard Ettensperger, 0. M. C. ; 1900, Rev. 
Peter W. Scharoun, 0. M. C, pastor; Rev. Ferdinand Mayer, 
0. M. C, Rev. Aegidius Block, 0. M. C, Rev. Henry Thameling, 
D. D., 0. M. C, Rev. Othmar Hellmann, 0. M. C, Rev. Albert 
Regensburger, M. C. 



ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH 

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH is situated at the corner of Co- 
lumbia and Huntington streets and its parish extends over 
the western portion of the city. It was the third Catholic 
Church in the city, having been divided from the earlier parish 
of St. John's and also antedated by St. Joseph's. The parish is 
divided from St. John's on the east by a line extending through 
Washington street and continuing in Genesee, and the same line 
extending south through Genesee street divides it from St. 
Francis de Sales'. Nearby is St. Joseph's (German) Church, 
with Parochial School and Convent of the Order of St. Francis. 
Not far distant is Holy Trinity Church for the Polish inhabitants 
of the city. St. Joseph 's Infant Home, in charge of the Sisters 
of Charity, is situated in the parish and is attended from St. Pat- 
rick's, as is St. Elizabeth's Hospital for the Insane, where Mass is 
celebrated by a priest from St. Patrick 's once a month. Previous 
to 1846 the neighborhood lying west of the Chenango Canal was 
called West Utica. It was called Commons as far south as Court 
street and was occupied by a few straggling houses. In 1846 
Nicholas Devereaux and others organized a stock company and 
built the steam woolen mills. The following year the Globe mills 
were erected and in 1848 the steam cotton mills and the neighbor- 
hood assumed a healthy growth. 

Late in 1849 a movement was on foot to have a church in West 
Utica. For this purpose thirteen Catholics met in a small office 
in the Globe woolen mill. The thirteen men present at the meet- 
ing were : Peter Clogher, James Merriman, Lawrnce Doyle, Law- 
rence Bailey, Edward Dolan, Thomas Dolan, Myles Mulligan, 
Lawrence Morgan, John Holmes, Edward Ryan, William Stan- 
ford, Edward Mern and Jacob Gottery. After a discussion the 
gentlemen present were convinced that there was need for a 
church. The meeting accordingly appointed Peter Clogher to 
wait upon Rev. Patrick Carahar, then assistant priest at St. 
John's, to obtain his consent to become pastor of the new church 
and lay the matter before the Bishop. Father Carahar 's consent 



CITY OF UTICA. 237 

was given, and the Rt. Rev. John MeCloskey, Bishop of Albany, 
also consented, saying that if a clergjrman would be found who 
was willing to settle down in a congregation so poor, with no hope 
of improvement, he was willing, and then and there he appointed 
Father Carahar. The new pastor immediately entered upon the 
task of forming a parish. One day in December of the same 
year, accompanied by Peter Clogher, he made a visit around the 
new parish and in a few weeks a small temporary chapel had 
been erected of rough boards. The structure was about thirty 
by sixty feet. It had an altar and seats and a small melodeon in 
a choir loft that would accommodate about twelve persons. Here 
it was that Father Carahar celebrated the first Mass in the new 
parish on St. Patrick's Day, 1850, and this saint was chosen as 
the patron of the church. Here the congregation worshipped for 
nearly two years, until their permanent church was ready. The 
old building was then kept for social purposes and for years fes- 
tivals and fairs were held during the holiday season and thus 
Father Carahar held the first fair in the city. The building was 
temporarily used as a dwelling house, but in 1868 it came into 
possession of the Sisters of St. Francis and still forms a part of 
their hospital, portions of it serving for their chapel and com- 
munity rooms. 

In the summer of 1850 Water's tavern, occupying the corner 
where St. Patrick 's Church now stands, together with a Lutheran 
Church adjacent to the east, was destroyed by fire. The site was 
secured and preparations for building a permanent church begun 
without delay. The site of the burned Lutheran Church was 
purchased several years later by Nicholas Devereaux and pre- 
sented to Father Carahar for a rectory site. The cornerstone of 
St. Patrick's Church M^as laid by Rt. Rev. John MeCloskey on the 
evening of July 13, 1851, and the first Mass was celebrated on 
Christmas Day, 1851, at midnight, by Father Carahar. The base- 
ment of the church was stone with brown stone watertable, the 
superstructure was of brick and the spire of wood. The dimen- 
sions of the church were 64 feet front by 128 feet depth, the spire 
rising 180 feet. It was built in Gothic style and had a seating 
capacity for 820 persons. The church was valued at about 
$30,000, and notable among its interior furnishings were the ex- 
cellent organ, valuable paintings of St. Patrick and St. Bridget, 



238 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

placed over the side altars, and a chime of nine bells. Besides a 
substantial rectory, built in 1868 on the lot adjacent to the 
church, at a cost of $11,000, Father Carahar purchased a school 
building on Columbia street and for a time maintained a Paro- 
chial School with Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis as 
teachers. Later, he leased the building to the city to be used as a 
school, the pastor to have the right to appoint the teachers. About 
1870, Father Carahar fitted the building for the use of a Sunday 
School and societies under the name of Social Hall. 

For over thirty years St. Patrick's parish flourished. Many 
societies were organized and supported, its choir held first rank 
among the choirs of the city and pastor and church shared wide- 
spread popularity. The parish debt had been reduced prior to 
building the rectory to $15,000, but the cost of the rectory having 
been added, it was never reduced very much afterwards. Later 
on, owing to the pastor's failing health and the falling off of the 
revenues of the church, the debt and embarrassments of the par- 
ish increased. In April, 1887, the property was sold at auction 
and bid in by Father Carahar at $27,600. The parish could not 
recover the property without assuming new obligations insisted 
upon by Father Carahar to insure his support in retirement and 
it was decided to abandon the property. Sunday, September 30, 
1888, was the day set by Father Carahar for closing the church. 
He had already tendered his resignation and at 10 :30 o 'clock 
Mass was celebrated for the last time in that edifice by Rev. 
Michael Joyce, the assistant priest, and Father Carahar delivered 
his farewell address to his congregation. On October 4 the ac- 
ceptance of the resignation by the Bishop and the appointment of 
his successor, the Rev. John J. McDonald, was announced. On 
Sunday, October 7, Father McDonald celebrated Mass in St. 
George's Hall on the southeast corner of Columbia and State 
streets, the meeting place of the Knights of St. George, a German 
Catholic society. In due time Social Hall, which had been sold, 
was recovered and enlarged. The first Mass was said therein by 
Father McDonald on November 18, 1888. On the night of No- 
vember 8, 1889, the unoccupied church with all its furnishings, 
untouched since the day it was closed, was consumed by a fire of 
unknown origin. Nothing could be saved. The rectory, however, 
which was still the residence of the former pastor, was unharmed. 



CITY OF UTICA. 239 

The event gave a new impetus to the fund already established for 
acquiring a new church. 

Father Carahar died October 23, 1890, after an illness of three 
weeks, in the seventieth year of his age. He was born in County 
Armagh, Ireland, August 3, 1821. He was one of ten brothers. 
He came to America when nine years of age with his brother, 
Rev. Bernard Carahar, and grew up under his care. He made 
his collegiate studies at Fordham College and went to Mt. St. 
Mary's Seminary, Emmittsburg, for his theological studies. He 
was ordained to the priesthood in 1844. His first appointment 
was in the Boston Diocese, where he erected a church at Augusta, 
Maine. In 1848 he came to Utica as assistant priest at St. John's 
and in December, 1849, received his appointment to establish St. 
Patrick's parish. Personally, Father Carahar was a great favor- 
ite. He loved to be called "Father Pat." His speech was epi- 
grammatical and witty. Fearless and plain spoken, he was a 
man of pronounced views and expressed himself with directness 
and energy. After the death of Father Carahar the parish re- 
covered possession of the rectory and the site of the ruined 
church. 

Another change of pastors was effected April 14, 1893, when 
Eev. John J. McDonald was transferred to Binghamton and Rev. 
Nicholas James Quinn took charge of St. Patrick's Church as its 
third pastor. His task was to proceed with building a new 
church. May 1, 1894, the congregation had $17,000 on hand and 
it was decided to build. The contracts were let and work was 
begun without delay, and on July 15 the cornerstone was laid by 
Bishop Ludden. The sermon on the occasion was delivered by 
Rev. William P. Quinn, then of Whitesboro. The building was 
inclosed and the exterior completed before winter and was ready 
for dedication by the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1895. 
The new church is larger and more beautiful than the old one 
and the debt remaining on it at the time of its dedication was less 
than it ever had been upon the old one. It was Sunday and 
Bishop Ludden officiated and celebrated Pontifical Mass, assisted 
by Very Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, assistant priest ; Rev. John J. Mc- 
Donald and Rev. Aloysius Murphy, deacons of honor ; Rev. Clem- 
ent Lutz and Rev. Martin J. Hughes, deacon and sub-deacon; 
Rev. Joseph A. Hopkins, master of ceremonies. The sermon was 



240 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

preached by the late Rev. J. J. Kennedy, Vicar-General of Syra- 
cuse. The preacher at Vespers was Rev. James 'Reilly of Clin- 
ton. 

The new church is somewhat larger than the old one and is 
built of pressed brick with base and trimmings of brown sand- 
stone, the roof of slate and the spire, which rises 167 feet to the 
base of the cross, is of the same material. The exterior is beauti- 
ful and graceful, but the chief beauty of the building is in the 
interior. The harmony of color, symmetry of proportions, the 
grandeur of design, make it a model of perfection and an edifice 
of which the congregation may justly be proud. The parish re- 
tains St. Patrick 's Hall, the building formerly used for a church. 
In this building there are two large halls for use of Sunday 
School, societies and business purposes. It is also used as a gym- 
nasium by the Patrician Athletic Club and is equipped with 
toilet, bath, locker and dressing rooms. 

The first trustees of the parish were Peter Clogher and James 
Merriman. After the death of Mr. Clogher and the resignation 
of Mr. Merriman, in 1880, John Carney and Myles Mulligan suc- 
ceeded them. Mr. Mulligan died in 1894 and Mr. Carney in 1902 
and they were succeeded, respectively, by the present incumbents, 
John W. Manley and John Cox. 

In the early days Whitesboro, New Hartford, Clayville, Water- 
ville and Clinton were dependent upon St. Patrick's for the min- 
istrations of a priest, but one by one parishes were established in 
each of these places, until, last of all, churches were built in 
Whitesboro and New Hartford in 1882. 

The first assistant priest at St. Patrick's Church was Rev. 
Richard Gahan. Father Gahan was born in Albany, was a gradu- 
ate of Holy Cross College, and was ordained at Troy on Trinity 
Sunday, 1882. He began his labors in St. Patrick's, June 18, 
1882, remaining until November of the following year. At the 
time of his death, which occurred in January, 1888, he was assist- 
ant at St. John the Baptist 's Church, Syracuse. The next assist- 
ant priest was Rev. Mathew K. Merns, who remained from No- 
vember, 1883, to October, 1884. Father Merns was born at Clay- 
ville in 1857, finished the classical course at Niagara University, 
studied theology and was ordained to the priesthood at St. Jo- 
seph 's Seminary. He is now pastor of St. Mary 's Church, Gran- 



CITY OF UTICA. 241 

ville, Diocese of Albany. Rev. John C. Higgins of Albany was 
assistant at St. Patrick's from October, 1884, to March, 1886. At 
the time of his death, June, 1894, Father Higgins was pastor of 
St. Patrick's Church, Clayville. Rev. John H. McGraw was 
transferred from Schenectady to St. Patrick's, March 18, 1886. 
In July, 1887, he was sent temporarily to Florence, and in Au- 
gust of the same year was made pastor of St. John's Church, 
Camden. He is now pastor at Clayville. Rev. Michael Joyce was 
assistant from October 1, 1887, to September 30, 1888, and on the 
latter date celebrated the last Mass that was ever said in the old 
church. Father Joyce is at present pastor of the Immaculate 
Conception Church, Fayetteville. 

Father McDonald, on taking charge of St. Patrick's, was ac- 
commodated for a time by Rev. A. Castelli, Rev. M. P. Mullhall 
and priests of the city until the appointment of Rev. George Lee, 
C. S. Sp. Father Lee came from Ireland and remained from 
October 1, 1891, to November 1, 1893, and is now pastor of St. 
Ann's Church, Millvale, Diocese of Pittsburg. Rev. Theodore 
Provost was assistant temporarily from June to September, 1895. 
He is now pastor of St. John's Church, Pulaski. Rev. William 
P. Quinn, assistant priest from September, 1896, until his death, 
a nephew of Rev. N. J. Quinn, was born in Binghamton and hav- 
ing pursued his classical studies at Niagara University and hav- 
ing received batchelor's and master's degrees in arts, entered St. 
Joseph's Seminary and was ordained December 17, 1887. Father 
Quinn 's earlier appointments had been to assistantship at St. 
John's Utica, and St. Paul's, Whitesboro. The year preceding 
his death had been spent mostly at southern health resorts with- 
out lasting benefit. His death occurred December 19, 1901, in 
the fortieth year of his age. Rev. Henry P. Hyland was sent to 
St. Patrick's in May, 1900. Rev. Robert J. Bogan was appointed 
to St. Patrick's in February, 1902, temporarily at first, but after 
it was decided that St. Patrick's should have two assistants, his 
appointment was made permanent. He was sent to Cortland 
July 3, 1908, and the Rev. James A. Pryor then came to the par- 
ish. Fathers Hyland and Pryor are the assistants at the present 
time. 

Rev. Nicholas James Quinn, the present pastor, was born at 
Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, December 6, 1840. When 



242 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

about seven years of age he removed with his parents to America 
and settled at Binghamton. He began his education for the 
priesthood as one of the tirst pupils in the school of Our Lady of 
Angels, now known as Niagara University. He afterward studied 
at the College of St. Charles Borromeo and at St. Joseph 's Semi- 
nary, where he pursued his theological course. He was ordained 
to the priesthood by the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, in the Cathe- 
dral of Albany, November 22, 1868. His first appointment was 
as assistant to Bishop Conroy at St. Joseph's Church, Albany. 
He was transferred thence to Binghamton, where, in association 
with his uncle, the Very Rev. James F. Hourigan, a pioneer priest 
of the Southern New York tier, he erected St. Patrick's Church, 
one of the finest religious edifices in the diocese. He continued 
his sacred duties there for upwards of a quarter of a century. In 
April, 1893, he was transferred by Bishop Ludden to the charge 
of St. Patrick's, Utica, where he found the parish without a 
church. However, in the short period of two years, he thoroughly 
reorganized the scattered interests into a flourishing congregation 
and erected a beautiful church building, which was dedicated 
December 8, 1895. Father Quinn comes of a family noted for its 
loyalty to the church. He has had two uncles and two nephews 
in the priesthood, four sisters, two nieces and two first cousins 
members of religious orders. 

In October, 1908, the parish purchased two pieces of property 
on Cooper and Huntington streets, adjoining the church prop- 
erty. One of the houses is to be remodeled for a Sisters ' Convent 
and the other has been torn down to make way for a Parochial 
School building, now in course of erection. 



ST. MARY'S (German) 

IN the course of a few decades, after the formation of St. Jo- 
seph's (German) parish, some families of the congregation 
and many newcomers settled in the eastern part of Utica, a 
section known as Corn Hill. There were found the settlers — Al- 
brechts, Geist, Amrhein, Moraths, Mohrs, and other numerous 
families. In the spring of 1870, these families, all of whom at- 
tended St. Joseph's Church, appealed to Bishop Conroy of Al- 
bany and obtained permission to form a new congregation. The 
parish limit was the eastern part of Utica, Genesee street being 
the dividing line between St. Joseph 's and the new congregation. 
In the same year the new congregation was incorporated under 
the title of ' ' St. Mary 's of the Immaculate Conception. ' ' Michael 
Albrecht and Jacob Geist were the first lay trustees. 

Two lots on the corner of South and Tayior streets were bought 
from the Butterfield estate in 1870. To these lots the old St. 
Paul's Lutheran Church, a frame building, costing $200, was 
moved. The first resident priest of St. Mary's Church was the 
Rev. George Veit, a Bavarian. 

The first High Mass was sung on Christmas morning, 1870, 
Joseph Helten assisting as organist. The congregation consisted 
of about fifty families. Under the pastorate of Father Veit the 
land forming the cemetery belonging to St. Mary's congregation 
was bought of John Adrian for $3,000 and laid out. It is situ- 
ated on "Webster avenue and was incorporated with the church 
property of St. Mary's in 1871. 

Father Veit commenced the day Parochial School connected 
with the church. Its first teacher was John Veit, a brother of 
Father Veit. The auditorium of the church was used as a class- 
room during school time. The school had about forty scholars in 
regular attendance. 

In the year 1872, towards Easter, Father Veit was replaced by 
the Rev. George Eis. During his pastorate the trustees bought 
from the John Slricher estate a lot adjoining the original church 
lots on the north, for $1,400. After twelve months, in 1873, 



244 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Father Eis resigned and was succeeded by Rev. Henry Fehling, 
a former Redemptorist. He was a man of prayer, a man of work 
and of ready wit. He enlarged the old frame church by adding 
side wings. He built the present rectory and increased the 
church property by buying a lot on South street. 

The year 1883 saw commenced and finished the present St. 
Mary's Church, a brick building erected at a cost of $30,000. 
Towards the fall of 1887 the health of Father Fehling became 
feeble. Father Henry Friesenburg was appointed assistant. 
Father Fehling died January 3, 1888, and was buried in St. 
Mary's Cemetery. His name is still held in blessed memory by 
the parishioners. The school, under Father Fehling, was directed 
and taught by Bappas and later by Nicholas Heinriche, they act- 
ing as organists at the same time. Charles Amrhein and Joseph 
Helten were the lay trustees and acted in that capacity for a 
number of years, up to the death of Father Fehling. 

The Rev. Andreas Lindenfeld, a former Redemptorist, suc- 
ceded Father Fehling. He selected Charles Amrhein and Chris- 
tian Vaith as lay trustees. Under Father Lindenfeld a new 
school building of brick was erected in 1892. The lay teachers 
were replaced in 1900 by the Sisters of St. Francis from Syra- 
cuse, who are teaching the children of St. Mary's at the present 
time. Two hundred pupils attend the school. 

The Rev. Bernard W. Goossens was acting pastor during eight 
months of 1895. Finally, ill health forced Father Lindenfeld to 
apply for a permanent assistant. The Rev. Joseph Wilmes was 
appointed in that capacity in 1897 and worked for the welfare of 
the people of St. Mary's for four years. Father Lindenfeld re- 
signed his charge in 1901, being succeeded at once by the present 
pastor, the Rev. Joseph Lechner. Father Lechner was born July 
15, 1866, in Wegesheim, Bavaria, Germany. He was ordained 
from the Grand Seminary, Montreal, Canada, December 19, 1891. 
His first appointment in the Diocese of Syracuse was as assistant 
priest at St. Mary's, Binghamton, where he served from Febru- 
ary 19, 1892, till February 29, 1895, going thence to Oswego, 
where he assumed the pastorate of St. Peter's (German) Church, 
April 15, and there remained until his appointment to St. INTary's. 

Charles Amrhein resisrned the treasurership of the parish and 
was replaced by Joseph Boehlert in the same office. 



ST. FRANCIS DE SALES 

TO provide for the spiritual wants of the increasing Catholic 
population of Utica, Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny, Bishop 
of Albany, formed, in the spring of 1877, a new parish, 
comprising the territory south of South street to the city line and 
east of Genesee street to Mohawk street, and appointed Rev. Luke 
G. O'Reilly pastor. He obtained permission from the Common 
Council to use the abandoned Steuben street school house and 
celebrated the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass there, May 7, 1877. A 
large congregation was present. Shortly afterwards the school- 
house was purchased from the city, remodeled and dedicated to 
the worship of God, under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales, 
November 4, 1877. 

Jane T. Rowe, a member of the parish, who died during the 
summer of 1879, gave and devised to Rev. Luke G. 'Reilly two 
lots at the corner of High and Eagle streets with a request that 
they be used as a site for a church or a parochial house. 

The church was incorporated May 20, 1882, Rt. Rev. Francis 
McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, Very Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, 
Vicar-General ; Rev. Luke G. 'Reilly, pastor ; Joseph A. Marrow 
and Patrick McNeirny being the members of the board of trus- 
tees. Two days later Father O'Reilly conveyed the Eagle street 
property to the church and a movement was at once inaugurated 
to erect a new and spacious edifice. The cornerstone was laid in 
1887 and the building was completed and dedicated the following 
year. The church is Romanesque in style and is constructed of 
brick with brownstone trimmings. The church with its furnish- 
ings cost about $50,000. The parochial house adjoining the 
church was built in 1889 at a cost of $10,000. The parish school 
is in charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph and has a regular attend- 
ance of 250 children. 

For many years after the founding of the parish. Father 
'Reilly attended to the wants of the people, but in the course of 
time the congregation, having grown and flourished under his 
fatherly care, he was obliged to call for assistance. Rt. Rev. P. 



246 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

A. Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse, appointed Christmas, 1889, Rev. 

B. A. Stack, assistant. In the fall of 1895, Father Stack was ap- 
pointed pastor of the church at Camillus. Rev. James Collins 
administered the parish in 1896 during Father O'Reilly's ab- 
sence in Europe. Rev. William J. Hourigan, assistant at the 
present time, was appointed November 20, 1897. 

Father O'Reilly died December 22, 1902. The present pastor, 
Rev. Daniel Doody, was sent to take charge of the parish. Father 
Doody is a native of the diocese, having been born at Granby, 
Oswego County, February 2, 1862. His preliminary education 
was received in the district schools and at the high school in 
Baldwinsville. He taught in New England schools for some time 
and then made the courses at St. Michael 's College, Toronto, and 
St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. Ordained December 17, 1887, his 
first appointment was as assistant at St. Mary's, Oswego, Janu- 
ary 26, 1888-June 28, 1891. On the latter date he became first 
resident pastor of St. Leo's, Tully, remaining until October 20, 
1895, when he was appointed pastor of St. James', Cazenovia. 
There he continued in charge until January 20, 1903, when he 
became second pastor of St. Francis de Sales' parish. 



ST. AGNES' 

FOR some time prior to the creation of a parish in East Utica, 
a mission chapel was established which was specially in- 
tended for the old and infirm who resided in the extreme 
eastern portion of St. John's parish. The spiritual wants of 
those who attended the services there were taken care of by 
priests from St. John's Church. 

With the rapid growth of population in the vicinity of the 
chapel, there were many who felt that a new parish in the section 
east of the "Gulf" was an absolute necessity, and in the latter 
part of May, 1887, a committee consisting of Charles J. McGuire, 
John P. Kelly, M. J. Dulan, W. H. McCann and John P. Day, 
called on Bishop Ludden and explained to him the necessity for 
a new parish in East Utica. 

After listening attentively to the statements of the members of 
the committee from Utica, Bishop Ludden advised them that he 
would give the matter due consideration, and would meet the 
committee in Utica on Sunday, June 19. 

Owing to pressing duties, the Rt. Rev. Bishop was unable to 
meet the committee until the morning of June 20, when, accom- 
panied by Vicar-General Lynch and Rev. Dr. Moriarty, pastor of 
St. John's, the mission chapel on Mary street, just east of Mary 
street schoolhouse, was visited, and it needed but a casual inspec- 
tion by the Rt. Rev. Bishop to convince him that a new parish 
was a necessity. After a brief drive through a portion of the 
proposed new parish, the party returned to St. John's rectory, 
and soon after his return, the Rt. Rev. Bishop announced that he 
had set aside that portion of St. John's parish east of the center 
line of Mohawk street for a new parish, and had appointed Rev. 
John J. Toomey (one of the assistants at St. John's) pastor. 

The glad tidings, for such they were to many people in East 
Utica, spread rapidly, and in the evening a largely attended 
meeting was held for the purpose of organizing the work of the 
infant parish on a practical basis. Charles J. McGuire was 
elected chairman, N. J. McGovern, secretary, and Father Toomey, 



248 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

treasurer. After laying out some preliminary work and listening 
to a stirring address by the new pastor, the meeting adjourned 
until the following Thursday evening, June 23. On that even- 
ing those present discussed the matter of a site for the proposed 
new church, and pending the appointment of lay trustees, a com- 
mittee, appointed for the purpose, was directed to secure an op- 
tion on the property on the westerly side of Kossuth avenue, and 
extending from Blandina to Mary street. The first Sunday 
Masses in the new parish were celebrated by Father Toomey, in 
No. 5 's engine house, June 26. Meantime, the women of the par- 
ish had not been idle, and had organized for the purpose of se- 
curing and furnishing a residence for the pastor. 

Rev. A. Castelli, although not a regular assistant in the parish, 
resided with Father Toomey, for a time, and assisted materially 
in the work of the parish in its early days. 

When the articles of incorporation were ready to file in the 
County Clerk's office, the name selected for the new parish, was 
St. Agnes, and Charles J. McGuire and John P. Day were named 
as lay trustees. 

The site on which the option had previously been secured by 
the special committee, was purchased, and an architect was se- 
cured to prepare plans for the new parish church. The original 
plans of the church edifice, provided for a substantial wooden 
structure, 65 x 142 feet, in ground area, but after the adoption of 
the plans, and when the stonework for the basement was well 
under way, the matter was reconsidered, and it was decided to 
build a brick edifice. So rapidly did the work proceed that on 
September 18 the laying of the cornerstone was solemnized by 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, Vicar-General Lynch delivering the 
sermon of the day. From the time of the first Masses in No. 5 's 
engine house, services were held in Mary street school, and in the 
chapel just east of the school building, but as the buildings in 
question were entirely inadequate for the needs of the parish, it 
was decided to cover the church basement with a temporary roof, 
and use it until such time as it was feasible to go on with the 
superstructure. 

The first Mass in the new basement was celebrated by Rev. 
Father Toomey, on Christmas morning, and the scene presented 
on that occasion was one that will live in the memory of those 



CITY OF UTICA. 249 

present, while life and reason last. The decorations of evergreens 
were so profuse that no portion of the walls or ceiling was visible, 
and with lights from the gas jets and the brilliantly lighted and 
handsomely decorated sanctuary, presented a church interior 
which is not likely to be seen again. 

In the work of the parish the zealous young pastor considered 
no duty too arduous for him, and with a highly sensitive nature 
such as his, the work and the worry made serious inroads on his 
health, and ere he realized it, his condition occasioned grave 
alarm to his legion of friends. They were, however, hopeful, but 
on June 13, 1891, the summons came, and Rev. John J. Toomey, 
the warm-hearted, brilliant young pastor of St. Agnes' parish 
was called to render an account of his stewardship. His funeral 
took place June 16, from the church he loved, and in the interests 
of whose people he had labored, and on June 17 his mortal re- 
mains were laid to rest in the family plot in his native city, Co- 
hoes. 

Father Toomey was succeeded by Rev. Myles O'Reilly, who, 
for a number of years previous to his appointment to St. Agnes' 
parish, was in charge of parishes at Pompey, LaFayette and 
Fabius. Father O'Reilly brought with him, to his new parish, 
the benefit of a ripe experience, and in a comparatively short 
time succeeded in paying off the floating debt of the parish, and 
setting aside a fund as a nucleus for the building of the super- 
structure of the church. 

On October 28, 1894, the church was solemnly dedicated to the 
service of God by Bishop Ludden. Soon after that important 
event. Father 'Reilly called a meeting of the men of the parish 
to consider the building of a parish rectory, and soon thereafter 
plans were made and contracts let for what was designed to be 
one of the best parish houses in the diocese, but like Moses and 
the promised land, Father O'Reilly was not permitted to live in 
it. The new building was well under way and Father O'Reilly 
confidently expected that in a short time he would have the pleas- 
ure of living in a residence in keeping with the parish, but alas, 
in the early days of November, 1895, he was suddenly stricken 
down, and, realizing that his earthly career was fast drawing to a 
close, he fortified himself with the sacraments of Holy Mother 
Church, and on November 6, 1895, his soul was summoned before 



250 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

the throne of God. His funeral was held November 9, 1895, and 
his mortal remains were interred in St. Agnes' Cemetery in the 
city of Syracuse. 

The Eev. William A, Ryan was appointed to St. Agnes ' on De- 
cember 12, 1895. Father Ryan was personally known to the ma- 
jority of the members of St. Agnes' parish, as he had served as 
an assistant in the parent parish, St. John's. He completed the 
rectory, put in new altars and stations of the cross, a new pipe 
organ, installed a steam heating plant to replace the antiquated 
furnaces used in heating the church, enclosed the church prem- 
ises with a handsome iron fence, had new walks laid, trees 
planted, and in various other ways beautified the church prem- 
ises. Through the Board of Aldermen he succeeded in having 
substantial asphalt pavements laid on the three streets on which 
the church property abuts, all of which are paid for, and in ad- 
dition to the improvements already named, he purchased and 
paid for a plot of ground on the easterly side of Kossuth avenue, 
directly opposite the parish residence, which is amply large in 
ground area for a parish hall or school. 

Father Ryan was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, April 
18, 1856. With his parents, he lived, as a child, in St. Patrick's 
parish, Syracuse, and attended the local schools. His studies in 
the classics were made at Niagara University and his philosophy 
and theology at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. Ordained priest 
December 23, 1882, his first appointment was as ast.istant at St. 
John's, Albany, December 31, 1882-January 14, 1883. He served 
in St. John's parish, Utica, in a similar capacity, January 15, 
1883, till June 1, 1885, when he was made pastor of St. Joseph's, 
Camillus, where he remained until his appointment to St. Agnes' 
parish. 

In the work of the parish, Father Ryan was ably assisted by 
Rev. Dennis J. Moore, who, in the spring of 1894, was sent by the 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden to assist the lamented Father O'Reilly. 
Father Moore was appointed pastor of St. Matthew's, East Syra- 
cuse, in 1907, and the Rev. William F. Sheehan, Ph. D., a native 
of Tully, who was ordained at the American College, Rome, Italy, 
succeeded him in St. Agnes' parish. The Rev. John P. Sheehan, 
is the assistant at the present time. 

The parish has had a phenomenal growth. Beginning with 



CITY OF UTICA. 251 

about 250 families, it numbers at the present time nearly 600 
families. In ground area it comprises one-third of the city of 
Utiea, and is located in the most rapidly growing section of the 
city. It should, in the not distant future, be numbered among 
the first parishes of the Diocese of Syracuse. The members of 
St. Agnes' are composed principally of people of Irish birth or 
their descendants. 



HOLY TRINITY (Polish) 

THE Polish people of Utica were gathered together for the 
first time, as a Catholic congregation, on Christmas Day, 
1896, when a high Mass was sung in St. John's School. 
The Eev. Simon Pniak was the celebrant and he was assisted by 
the Rt. Rev. Mgr. J. S. M. Lynch and the Revs. James M. Mur- 
phy and Michael Mara of St. John's. Eight hundred Poles were 
present. Prior to this time, the spiritual wants of these people 
had been attended to by the Franciscans of St. Joseph's, Utica, 
and by the Polish priests of Syracuse and Schenectady, who 
visited them on stated occasions. 

Holy Trinity parish was formally organized this Christmas 
Day and thereafter Mass was said in the parish house on Lincoln 
avenue until the church — work on which was almost immediately 
begun — was finished. 

Eighty families affiliated with the new parish in the beginning, 
and this number has gradually increased until to-day when over 
200 families are members of the parish and the regular Sunday 
attendance has increased to almost 2,000. 

The years which have passed have seen many changes in the 
parish. A parochial residence and a cemetery have been pur- 
chased, and some years ago a parish school was started in the 
basement of the church. Three hundred children now attend this 
school. In 1906 work was commenced on a new church, which, 
when completed, will be one of the finest in the diocese. It is 
being built entirely of gray granite and will cost upwards of 
$200,000. The old church will be used as a school house when the 
new edifice is completed. 

Father Pniak, first pastor, was bom October 24, 1861, in Ry- 
manow, Galieia, Austria, and was ordained priest December 21, 
1896, in Rochester, after making his theological studies in St. 
Bernard's Seminary, that city. He remained in charge until 
June, 1909, when the Rev. T. Suck was appointed in his place. 
The Rev. Anthony A. Chyszek is assistant priest. 



ST. MARY'S OF MT. CARMEL (Italian) 

ITALIAN Catholics came in large numbers to Utiea in 1883, 
when the construction work on the West Shore Railroad had 
reached the Mohawk Valley. Many of those who came with 
the work to the city have remained to become permanent citizens 
and these have been joined by so many others recent years that 
the Italian population of the city is now estimated at 20,000. 

Few of the early comers attended the churches of other nation- 
alities and it was seen at once that unless they were to be lost to 
the Church arrangements must be made for their separate care. 
With this object in view, the Rt. Rev. Mgr. Lynch of St. John's, 
with the assistance of Mrs. Kernan, who understood the language 
of the people, had pamphlets printed and distributed among the 
Italians, inviting them to organize a parish to await the coming 
of an Italian priest. Later he arranged with Father Griffin, a 
priest of that nationality, then residing in Oswego, to take charge 
of the parish so organized. Father Griffin was succeeded by 
Father Doyle, a Franciscan, then stationed at St. Joseph's, Utica. 
He, in turn, was succeeded by the Rev. A. Castelli, who had come 
to Utiea to be chaplain at St. Vincent's Industrial School. 

St. Mary's of Mt. Carmel parish was founded in St. John's 
Church and Father Castelli, becoming attached to St. John's, at- 
tended to the spiritual wants of his own people. For a while he 
held services in an old school building on Catherine street, the 
property of St. John 's, and in 1901 he purchased a plat of ground 
some distance away and erected thereon the little church which 
has been used up to the present. 

Father Castelli died October 24, 1903, and the Rev. Joseph 
Formia was appointed his successor. Father Formia is a mem- 
ber of the Congregation of St. Charles Borromeo. He was born 
in Tonenzo, Canaverse, Italy, March 19, 1874, and was ordained 
at Piacenza, Italy, December 18, 1897. Before coming to Utiea 
he was an assistant in the Italian churches at Boston, Mass. 

In 1904 Father Formia built a parochial school and placed it 
in charge of the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse. Three hun- 



254 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

dred children now attend the school and plans are under way for 
the erection of a larger building. A convent for the Sisters was 
built in 1907. 

The parish is in a flourishing condition and had grown to such 
an extent in 1907 that the aid of an assistant priest became neces- 
sary and the Rev. Mattthew Pelligrini was appointed as such in 
November of that year. 



ST. VINCENT'S CHAPEL 

ST. VINCENT'S INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL is the only insti- 
tution in the diocese which has a resident chaplain. The 
Christian Brothers came to Utica in 1862 at the request of 
the faculty of St. John's, to establish a home for wayward boys. 
The instittuion was housed at first in one of the buildings now 
used as a part of Assumption Academy. The Brothers are still 
in charge and their institution enjoys a country-wide reputation 
for the excellent results achieved through its training of the boys 
committed to their care. These number at present about 250, 
and among them are included the wayward, the truant and 
juvenile criminals under court sentence. They occupy handsome 
modern buildings, located on a large farm, well outside the city 
limits. 

The Rev. A. Castelli was chaplain for some years, resigning to 
become first resident pastor of St. Mary 's of Mt. Carmel Church, 
Utica. He was succeeded by the present incumbent, the Rev. 
Bernard A. Smith. Father Smith was born in County Cavan, 
Ireland, May 22, 1856. He was ordained December 23, 1882, at 
the Grand Seminary, Montreal. His service in the priesthood has 
been in the dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn and Syracuse, as fol- 
lows: St. Mary's, Little Falls, January 13, 1883-December 15, 
1883; Holy Cross Church, Salem, N. Y., December 18, 1883- 
February 18, 1884; St. Paul's, Oswego, February, 1884-July, 
1885; pastor of St. Stephen's, Marathon, 1885-1887; St. John 
the Evangelist, Brooklyn, 1892-1900; St. Vincent's Industrial 
School, 1900 — . 



ROME 

PIONEER PARISH OF LYNCHVILLE (ROME), ORGANIZED IN 1837, 
EMBRACED A TERRITORY NOW SERVED BY FOUR SCORE 
PRIESTS PRESIDING OVER PROSPEROUS PARISHES AND 
GROWING MISSIONS. 

ST. PETER'S CHURCH 

THE Rev. William Beecham was appointed first pastor of 
St. Peter's Church, Rome, in the spring of 1837 by Bishop 
Dubois, of New York. He said the first Mass in a cooper 
shop located on South James street, this city, then a very small 
village, called Lynchville. At this first Mass all the Catholics 
of the vicinity, numbering it is said, about fifteen persons, were 
present. Of this first little flock none remains to-day to tell the 
joy and happiness that those early settlers experienced in having 
in their midst a priest to encourage them and to minister to their 
spiritual wants. Father Beecham was born in Queens County, 
Ireland, in 1805. At the time of his birth his parents belonged 
to the English Protestant Church, but when young Beecham 
was about sixteen years of age the whole family embraced the 
Catholic faith. 

Having finished, with marked distinction, a course of philos- 
ophy and theology in Carlow College, among whose professors, at 
that time, were the eminent scholars, Drs. Doyle and Cahill, the 
young aspirant to the holy priesthood, filled with an apostolic zeal 
which indeed clearly manifested itself during his forty years of 
indefatigable labors on the mission, started out, like many of his 
young countrymen, for the broad fields of the western world. He 
was ordained priest by Bishop Dubois in 1836, in the old St. 
Patrick 's Cathedral of New York. Soon after his ordination the 
young priest was sent out to Central New York to pursue his mis- 
sionary labors. He selected Rome for his permanent residence. 
From this center, for many years, he attended to the spiritual 
wants of the Catholic people, at that time, sparsely scattered over 
Lewis, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison and parts of Onondaga and 



256 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Chenango counties. It would be quite impossible to form any 
idea now of the many sacrifices which the zealous young mission- 
ary was obliged to undergo as he traveled, at all times and 
seasons of the year, over this vast territory ; at a period, too, when 
railroads were not even thought of in this wild region, and when 
the country roads of later years were then few and often impass- 
able. To the ordinary man the obstacles to be encountered would 
seem altogether insuperable, but Father Beecham was a man of 
indomitable courage and perseverance, who would allow no diffi- 
culties to stand in the way of the performance of his spiritual 
duties. Nature had given him a splendid physique. He was a 
man fully six feet in height, of a noble, portly bearing, and was 
much beloved and respected by the early settlers of all denomina- 
tions, who esteemed it a great honor to have him in their midst. 

About the year 1840 Father Beecham procured a most eligible 
site on the corner of Floyd street and Peters avenue, on which he 
erected a handsome brick church, which he had dedicated under 
the patronage of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Considering 
the number and, at that time, the poverty of his little flock, this 
work must have demanded an almost superhuman effort on the 
part, both of the pastor and his small congregation, but faith and 
generosity triumphed. When Bishop Hughes came from New 
York City in 1845 to dedicate this first St. Peter's Church of 
Rome, he was amazed at the size and dimensions of the new edi- 
fice. He frankly told the young pastor that he must have lost his 
head when he thought of erecting such a building, out in the 
wilderness — that he might never expect to be able to pay off the 
debt which he had incurred, nor could he ever hope to have a con- 
gregation large enough to fill it. The church would seat about 
five hundred people. But the good pastor not only paid off all 
the indebtedness, but also lived to see it filled to overflowing, with 
sturdy, devout, spiritual children — the sons and daughters of St. 
Patrick, from the green old Isle. 

What were hamlets and small villages, at the time of Father 
Beecham 's advent to Central New York, have since grown into 
flourishing towns and cities. The territory which he traversed 
during the first years of his missionary labors has now many 
magnificent churches, attended by not less than seventy-five 
priests, ministering to large congregations. 



CITY OF ROME. 257 

After forty years of most zealous labor in the vineyard of the 
Lord, the venerable patriach and pioneer of Catholicity in Cen- 
tral New York, was called to his reward, by the Master he had so 
long and so faithfully served, on the 10th of March, 1876, being 
then in his seventy-first year. His obsequies will long be remem- 
bered in Rome. The whole city turned out that day to do honor 
to the memory of him whom all had learned to love and esteem. 
Several distinguished prelates, the priests of the diocese of Al- 
bany, of which Rome, at that time, was a part, and a large, 
number of the Rev. Clergy of the neighboring dioceses, attended 
the funeral. Among the flock, to which the devoted shepherd 
had so long endeared himself, grief was filial, deep and tender. 
Father Beecham 's remains rest in St. Peter 's cemetery among the 
dear ones to whom he ministered in life. 

St. Peter's first pastor was succeeded by the Rev. Aloysius 
Murphy, M. R. Like his predecessor he was a native of Ireland. 
He was appointed pastor of this important parish by Bishop Mc- 
Neirny, April 9th, 1876. It may be stated here, as worthy of 
note, that in seventy years St. Peter's Church of Rome had but 
two pastors. This, we think, marks an exception, which has few, 
if, indeed, any precedent in the Church in this country. 

The newly appointed pastor soon came to the conclusion that 
the old St. Peter's was too small to accommodate his people, and 
at once set about enlarging and renovating it. This was begun in 
1878 and was completed the following year. In 1881 the present 
parochial residence, which is considered one of the finest in the 
diocese, was built. 

In 1893 it was decided that more and better school accommoda- 
tions were needed. To meet this requirement, the pastor and his 
people determined on building a new church, that, in all future 
time, would fully meet the wants of the constantly increasing 
congregation, and fit up the old church for school purposes. A 
lot was secured on the corner of East Park and North James 
streets, one of the most desirable locations in the city. Plans for 
the new church were drawn by Architect Archimedes Russell of 
Syracuse. Work was begun in the summer of 1893 and the build- 
ing completed in the fall of 1897. On the 24th of October, the 
same year, the church, being entirely free of debt, was conse- 
crated by the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, Bishop of Syracuse. The 



258 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Most Rev. Archbishop Martinelli, Papal Delegate, now Cardinal, 
pontificated, the Rt. Rev. Monsignor Conaty, Rector of the Catho- 
lic University at Washington, now Bishop of Monterey and Los 
Angeles, preached in the morning, and the late Rt. Rev. Bernard 
J. McQuaid, Bishop of Rochester, preached at the Vesper service. 

St. Peter's, so far as we can learn, was the first parochial 
church in America consecrated immediately on being completed. 
The church is built of Medina brown stone, will seat 1,200 people, 
and cost $175,000. At the present time the congregation num- 
bers about 2,000 souls. 

The handsome edifice will ever stand as a monument to the self- 
sacrificing zeal of the distinguished priest under whose direction 
it was built. Father Murphy died April 6, 1906, and the Rev. 
James J. Carson, who had been assistant at St. Peter's since 1896, 
was appointed permanent rector after examination at a concursus 
held in Syracuse. Father Carson was born in Castlebar, County 
Mayo, Ireland, October 23, 1868, and was ordained priest in the 
Cathedral at Baltimore, December 21, 1895. His first appoint- 
ment was to St. Peter's parish, where he assumed his duties on 
January 1, 1896. 

During Father Carson's administration the parish has acquired 
a valuable property in the business section of the city, which has 
been so remodeled that the upper floors are used for meeting 
rooms and a club for the church societies. 

Catholic schools were established in connection with St. Peter 's 
parish in 1850. At first lay teachers were employed, but about 
1855 Franciscan Sisters took charge, and they were replaced in 
1865 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, who 
have since taught most successfully. Some 350 children are in 
attendance. The grades run from the first to the twelfth, inclu- 
sive. 

The assistant priests connected with St. Peter 's Church were : 
Rev. William Coughlan, from June, 1850, until October the same 
year; Rev. Patrick Kenna, October, 1850-February, 1851; Rev. 
Patrick Conlon, May, 1855-April, 1856; Rev. William Howard, 
June, 1858-December, 1861 ; Rev. Robert Byrne, December. 1865- 
October, 1866; Rev. Daniel O'Connell, February, 1867-October, 
1867; Rev. James O'Reilly, October, 1867- August, 1869; Rev. D. 
J. 'Keef e, September, 1869-November, 1869 ; Rev. John Craven, 



LEE. 259 

December, 1869-August, 1870; Rev. Charles Zucker, November, 
1870-March, 1871; Rev. H. J. Shields, May, 1871-September, 
1872; Rev. Francis Maguire, November, 1872- January, 1873; 
Rev. Patrick Birmingham, February, 1873-November, 1874 ; Rev. 
James Bloomer, November, 1874-September, 1878; Rev. Francis 
Cunningham, October, 1878-November, 1883 ; Rev. James Ward, 
November, 1883-January, 1890 ; Rev. John F, McLoghlin, Febru- 
ary, 1890-October, 1895 ; Rev. James J. Carson, January, 1896- 
April, 1906; Rev. Robert J. Henry, of the Rochester Diocese, 
April, 1906-July, 1909. The Rev. Joseph Ellis, a native of St. 
Agnes' parish, Utica, who was ordained in June, 1909, by Bishop 
Grimes, is the present assistant. Only five of all these assistant 
priests survive at this date. 



St. Joseph's Church, Lee, Oneida County, is attended from St. 
Peter's. 



ST. MARY'S OF THE ASSUMPTION 

(GERMAN) 

THE records of the church show that missionary priests vis- 
ited the German Catholics from the year 1845 to adminis- 
ter to their spiritual wants. 

During the year 1847 the first steps were taken to have a house 
of worship of their own, and in 1848 a humble wooden structure 
on the corner of James and Depeyster streets was ready for 
divine service. The seating capacity was about 400. A resident 
priest was appointed by Bishop McCloskey of Albany in the per- 
son of Rev. Florian Schwenninger, a Tyrolese, and member of the 
Benedictine Order. Twenty-two priests succeeded him, until, on 
September 15, 1870, the Rev. P. J. Schmitt was assigned by 
Bishop Conroy of Albany to the charge of this congregation. He 
found his church in a very dilapidated condition, and inadequate 
to the wants of the increasing congregation. In the spring of 
1870 two lots of about 66 feet frontage were secured on the east 
side of James street, and the old parsonage north of the church 
was exchanged for a little house and lot on the corner of James 
and Depeyster streets. Another frame building in the rear of the 
church was in part fitted up for a school, where a single teacher 
undertook the task of instructing some six score children. 

Although plans had already been drafted for the new church, 
the site thus secured was finally rejected, as being unsuited for 
such purpose. 

Toward the latter part of September, at a meeting of the trus- 
tees and some of the older and leading men of the congregation, 
the purchase of property on West Liberty street was resolved. 
The consent of the Bishop was obtained, and in spite of appeals 
and remonstrations against this new site, the ecclesiastical au- 
thorities fully upheld this selection as being the sentiment of an 
unbiased and intelligent majority, and the solution of a long 
agitated question. 

On this site the present Gothic church was erected at a cost of 
$34,370. On May 18, 1871, the Feast of the Ascension, in the 
presence of a large concourse of people, the cornerstone was laid 



CITY OF ROME. 261 

by Rt. Rev. J. J. Conroy, attended by about sixty of the clergy. 
The Bishop, in a brief discourse, declared that this edifice was 
designed for the exclusive use of St. Mary's congregation, whose 
hearty co-operation he earnestly requested. On Christmas of the 
same year the congregation assembled for the first time in their 
new church, although the interior was not completed. 

On September 22, 1872, the new church was solemnly dedi- 
cated by the late Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny of Albany, assisted 
by the pastor and clergy. 

In 1893 a new brick school house was auspiciously opened. 
The Parochial School has been in charge of the Sisters of Chris- 
tian Charity since 1876, and God only knows how much good has 
been accomplished by those able and self-sacrificing teachers. At 
present about 275 children, divided into seven grades, attend this 
school. 

In 1895 the Rev. P. J. Schmitt, having completed the twenty- 
fifth year of his pastorate of St. Mary's Church, resigned his 
charge, and in 1896 was succeeded by the Rev. Michael Rieger, 
who successfully continues the work of his able predecessor. 
Father Rieger was born January 19, 1868, in Schwabsborg, Ger- 
many. He was ordained July 20, 1890, in Portoviejo, Manabi, 
Ecuador, South America. His first service was in Rocafuerte, 
July, 1890-June, 1895. He was incardinated into the Diocese of 
Syracuse and was assigned to this parish as assistant priest in 
August, 1895, continuing in that capacity until April, 1896, when 
he was appointed pastor. He is assisted in his arduous duties by 
the Rev. Alfred Roth, a native of Syracuse. 

The congregation embraces nearly 300 families. The church 
property includes a beautiful brick church, a convenient school 
house, a parsonage and Sisters' Convent. 



ST. JOHN THE BAPIST (ItaUan) 

THE Italian Catholic parish of Rome was organized at a 
meeting of sixty representative men of that nationality, 
held at Duly Hall, on Saturday, July 26, 1909, and was 
incorporated August 5, under the title of St. John the Baptist 
(Italian) Church. 

The Rt. Rev, Bishop Ludden has approved the formation of 
the parish and the plans thus far formulated. At a subsequent 
meeting of those in interest it was decided to lease or purchase a 
building which could be used as a church and parish school, and 
the following building committee was named : Chairman, G. An- 
tonio Rienzo ; vice-chairman, Patrick Uvanni ; cashier, Frank 
Musante ; corresponding secretary, Guiseppe Torchio ; financial 
secretary, Severno Agone ; Michael Duly and Thomas Bove. 



DEERFIELD 

DEERFIELD MISSION belonged to the New York Diocese 
from 1808 till 1847. From the close of the war for Ameri- 
can independence the population increased along the Mo- 
hawk Valley and on Deerfield Hill until Deerfield township num- 
bered 2,347 inhabitants in 1845. Many of that number were 
Catholics, the greater portion of them being Irish. 

The first Catholic priest who attended the mission of Deerfield 
Hill was Father McQuade of Albany. Mass was said then and 
for many years afterwards in some of the farmhouses, the farm- 
ers taking turns in accommodating the priest and neighbors who 
attended. One of the histories of Oneida County has the follow- 
ing statement : ' ' The first priest attending Catholic missions in 
this (northwestern) district was Rev. M. McQuade. He was pas- 
tor of St. Mary's Church in Albany. He took charge of the scat- 
tered Catholics in this district and said Mass for them occasion- 
ally from 1813 to 1816. " 

From 1816 till 1825 the mission of Deerfield Hill was attended 
by Rev. M. Farnon. On May 24, 1819, the following public an- 
nouncement was made concerning him : "Rev. M. Farnon, who is 
now established rector of the western district, has returned from 
a circuit through said district and will have divine service at the 
Academy (in Utica) on the 30th inst." 

For a long time, the mission of Deerfield Hill was considered, 
in some respects, the leading and best mission in what was then 
called the western or northern or northwestern district. That 
mission was attended by the following priests from 1825 : 

Rev. R. Bulger, 1825-1827; Rev. J. Shanahan, 1827 (He was 
resident pastor of Deerfield Hill) ; Rev. L. Berry, 1827-1828 ; Rev. 
H. Walsh, 1828-1829; Rev. P. O'Reilly, 1829-1830; Rev. M. Cum- 
mings, 1830-1832; Rev. J. Cahill, 1832-1833; Rev. W. J. Quar- 
ter, Rev. A. Bradley, Rev. P. M'Closkey, Rev. D. Bacon, 1833- 
1839 ; Rev. J. Burke, 1840-1842 (He was resident pastor of Little 
Falls) ; Rev. Thomas Martin. Rev. J. Cull, 1842-1844 ; Rev. John 
Kenney resided at Holy Cross Church and, at intervals, attended 



264 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Little Falls from Deerfield Hill from beginning of 1844 till about 
1845 or 1846; Rev. George M'Closkey was resident pastor of 
Deerfield Hill for some time; Rev. John M'Menomy attended 
Deerfield Hill from Little Falls for some time after 1845; Rev. 
William Coghlan, Rev. M. Clarke, Rev. P. F. Arnold, 1850-1854; 
Rev. J. Herbst, December, 1854-1863, or later; Rev. W. Fitzger- 
ald, from 1863 or later to 1867 or 1868 ; Rev. W. Howard, 1868- 
1872 (resident pastor of Ilion) ; Rev. Thomas Keating of New- 
port, 1872-1873; Rev. E. A. Thornton of Newport, 1873-1874; 
Rev. William Burke of Newport, 1874-1875. 

From 1854 to the end of 1874 the mission of Deerfield Hill was 
limited and comprised all Deerfield, from the Mohawk River 
northward to West Canada Creek, with all Marcy and Trenton. 

For many years after the church had been built on Deerfield 
Hill, when the weather and roads were good, the attendance at 
Mass on Sundays often consisted of 300 up to 500 persons. Many 
of these came from Schuyler, Ne'WT)ort, Fairfield and Norway, in 
Herkimer County. But the number decreased after a church had 
been built near Newport, as the Catholics thenceforward attended 
that church from the four places named above, leaving the Catho- 
lics of Deerfield Hill within Oneida County to form the congre- 
gation of Holy Cross Church. 

Rev. William J. Quarter of New York City gave $100 in cash 
and an acre of land for the new Church of the Holy Cross on 
Deerfield Hill. He said the first Mass in that church in the sum- 
mer of 1838, before the church was complete and before the deed 
for the acre of land from his farm was signed by his father, who 
had held the property in his name. 

The last Mass was said in that church in 1867 or 1868, by Rev. 
W. FitzGerald, who was then resident pastor of Newport. The 
frame of the Church of the Holy Cross still remains. 

Dutch Flats was the name given to the lowlands bordering on 
the Mohawk River in the southern part of Deerfield, as so many 
Germans had located in that section. Many of those Germans 
were Roman Catholics. 

At the beginning of 1872 some of the German and Irish Catho- 
lics decided to have a church near Deerfield-Four-Corners. They 
subscribed for that purpose. Governor Seymour, who resided 



DEERFIELD. 265 

about two miles west of the present Catholic Church at the Cor- 
ners, gave $200 to help build the church. 

Rev. George Veith, who was then pastor of St. Mary's Church 
in Utica, was the first priest who attended the Catholic mission on 
Dutch Flats. He said the first Mass in Leland Hall, over the 
Leland store, near Deerfield-Four-Corners, early in 1872. The 
precise day and month of that Mass are not known at present. 
About thirty-five persons were at that Mass. 

Rev. J. B. Eis was the second priest who attended this mission. 
He said the first Mass in the new church on November 1, 1872, 
although the building was not then finished. About sixty-five 
persons were present. He attended the mission till December, 
1872. 

Rev. William Kemper then became pastor and so continued till 
July, 1874. While he was pastor the church was blessed by 
Father Noethen of Albany. It was named St. Peter 's Church. 

From July, 1874, the following priests had charge of the 

church : Rev. Anthony Gehring, 0. M. C. ; Rev. Volten, 

0. M. C. ; Rev. J. W. Cluver, who continued from March, 1875, 
till February or March, 1876 ; Rev. Oderic Vogt, 0. M. C. ; Rev. 
Leonard Reich, 0. M. C, the last two attending from July, 1876, 
till January, 1877 ; Rev. P. Emmanuel, 0. Cap., who was pastor 
from April, 1877, till August of the same year ; Rev. A. H. Lin- 
denfeld, 1878-1887 ; Rev. Clemens Luitz, 0. M. C, and Rev. N. 
Graziani, 0. M. C, both attending a few months; Rev. A. H. 
Lindenfeld till November, 1888 ; Rev. B. Fresenberg, from Feb- 
ruary, 1889, till May, 1890 ; Rev. Bernard Quinn, from June 23, 
1890, till the present time. 

A small parish school was kept near the church for a few years. 
In 1878 400 people attended the church. To-day the congrega- 
tion numbers about 200. 

The buildings belonging to the church are a brick dwelling for 
priest and a frame church, with small sacristy and woodshed. 
The buildings and furniture are valued at $12,000. 

The one acre of land acquired in 1838 for the Church of the 
Holy Cross on Deerfield Hill may be included with the church 
lots and graveyard at Deerfield Corners. Those three lots are all 
the land now belonging to the church. The church property has 



266 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

been greatly improved during the present pastorate and is free 
of debt. 

Father Quinn was incardinated into the Diocese of Syracuse 
in the year 1890, and was at St. John's Cathedral for a few 
months before his appointment to Deerfield. 



FLORENCE 

THOUGH a few families settled in Florence as early as 1798, 
their numbers gradually increasing each year, the marked 
increase was made in 1811-1825. From 1826 to 1837 tan- 
neries were being erected and many Irish Catholic families made 
their way here. The prospect of getting and holding land, of be- 
coming free holders, induced them to settle on farms. After a 
little while they organized and petitioned Rev. "William Beecham 
of Rome to visit them and say Mass here, which he did frequently 
from 1838 to 1845, when Archbishop Hughes of New York ap- 
pointed Rev. Robert Kelliher in September as first resident 
pastor. Like most missionaries in new countries, both these 
priests said Mass in private houses at the various missions till the 
opportunity came either to purchase or build a house for divine 
worship. This opportunity was presented to Father Kelliher in 
Florence, when the school-house, erected by the Baptist society in 
1834, was offered for sale. The school-house was a three-story 
stone building, constructed under the direction of Rev. Henry 
Hascell, of Hamilton College, and intended for a Mental and 
Manual Institution, where students were supposed to board them- 
selves and labor enough on the grounds attached to pay for their 
tuition. It was fostered by Genet Smith of Madison County, and 
was used as a seminary until about 1845, when the society so de- 
clined that it was offered for sale by Genet Smith, into whose 
hands it had fallen. 

Father Kelliher, with his people, purchased the seminary on 
contract for $750, remodeled it, and called it St. Mary's Church 
of Mount Carmel, wherein Mass has been celebrated ever since. 

Besides Florence, Father Kelliher assumed charge of Annsville, 
Camden, Taberg, Osceola, Redfield, Williamstown, North Bay, 
Black Creek (Cleveland), and Constantia, and with much zeal, 
perseverance and industry he organized his people into mission 
circles, where he could say Mass, preach and administer the sac- 
raments. He officiated here from September, 1845, till July, 



268 DIOCESE OF SYKACUSE. 

1852, when, on the advent of Father Fitzpatriek, he went to Can- 
ada, and yet lives in honored retirement at Toronto. 

August 1, 1852, Rev. John Peter Fitzpatriek was appointed to 
these missions by Rt. Rev. Bishop MeCloskey of Albany. He 
erected churches in Cleveland and Camden during his first year 's 
administration. With his gentlemanly address he easily attracted 
co-operation in his labors. He went from Florence in 1855 to the 
eastern portion of the diocese. On a visit to his relatives and old 
parishioners of Florence he took sick and died in Taberg in 1868. 
His remains were brought to Florence, where High Mass was 
celebrated for his soul in the presence of his family, many priests 
and a large congregation. He is interred beside his parents in 
the family plot at the rear of the church, which is situated on a 
high eminence in the center of the cemetery. 

Rev. John Ludden, a brother to Rev. Anthony P. Ludden, now 
of Little Falls, and Rev. James M. Ludden of Albany, also a 
cousin to Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden of Syracuse, was appointed 
here in December, 1855. He was bom in Furlough, County 
Mayo, Ireland, April 2, 1827, and died at Florence, September 
28, 1878, after nearly twenty-three years' ministration in the sur- 
rounding districts. His pastorate was remarkable for enduring 
zeal, persevering labor and apt executive ability in dealing with 
the spiritual and temporal interests of his people. Scholarly, 
eloquent at times, with native love for his people and the tradi- 
tional characteristics of the sincere and gentlemanly "Soggarth 
Aroon, ' ' the people well called him ' ' Our Own Father John. ' ' 

On his advent to the parish, the title to church and cemetery 
was by contract, and passed by deed to the congregation, May 13, 
1856, when it was deeded to nine trustees, elected at a meeting 
held October 8, 1855, for the purpose of incorporation. The trus- 
tees elected were Dennis Keefe, James Hayes, Jermiah Fitzger- 
ald, Thomas Caine, Michael McLoughlin, Charles Regan, Patrick 
McLoughlin, John Boyle and Bernard Gartland, James Got and 
Silvester Gartland being the presiding officers of the meeting. 
This system of tenure did not work well and by degrees the trus- 
tees signed over their title to the Rt. Rev. Bishop. From 1856 to 
1861 many Catholic families moved into Florence, Annsville, Ta- 
berg, Camden, Williamstown, Osceola, North Bay, Cleveland, and 
Constantia, all of which Father Jolm Ludden at first attended. 



FLORENCE. 269 

Subsequently the three last named missions reverted to the 
charge of Father Beecham of St. Peter's, Rome, and afterwards 
were created into a separate parish with Rev. P. J. Birmingham 
as first pastor. In 1860 there were about 670 Catholic families 
in these missions, of which 347 frequented St. Mary's Church, 
Florence. In 1876 the parish was again divided, making Anns- 
ville and Taberg a parish, and Father McNulty pastor. Camden, 
Williamstown and Sand Bank were also detached and formed 
into a parish and Rev. P. H. Beecham appointed its first pastor, 
from 1869 to 1875. Revs. P. 'Sullivan and Thomas Walsh as- 
sisted Father Ludden. From here Father Walsh went to Pots- 
dam, N. Y., and died in New York in 1896. In March and De- 
cember, 1859, two plats of ground were purchased, whereon the 
present parochial house and barn were constructed. On May 12, 
1881, this property was deeded by Rev. Anthony P. Ludden, 
brother to and executor of the last will and testament of Father 
John, to Rt. Rev. Francis McNeirny. February 19, 1896, Bishop 
McQuaid of Rochester, as sole surviving executor of Bishop Mc- 
Neirny, conveyed the property to St. Mary's Church, Florence, 
N. Y. In 1868-69 the church was remodeled by adding sanctu- 
ary, sacristies and tower, the expense of which was met by a large 
subscription and a mortgage for $1,500. This mortgage was can- 
celed by John 'Brien of New York, who presented Bishop Lud- 
den with a satisfaction paper in remembrance of their early 
friendship formed at Florence. Father Ludden, after many 
labors of religion and love, rests in the church cemetery with his 
parents and one brother, to whose memories an imposing monu- 
ment was erected. 

In October, 1878, Rev. P. J. Birmingham was appointed pastor 
of Florence. He was born at Killegan, County Westmeath, 
Ireland, ordained June, 1872, and died August 24, 1883, at St. 
Elizabeth's Hospital, Utica, following injuries sustained in a run- 
away accident. Besides the temporal well-being of his congrega- 
tion he was very successful in organizing religious devotions in a 
scattered country mission, holding the attention and attendance 
of the sodalities. His Rosary Society was about as large as any 
in the diocese, and at Angelus time it was edifying to see the 
villagers and farmers at their work, doff their hats without trepi- 
dation or concealment, publicly but sincerely recite the Angelus, 



270 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

then cheerfully resume their labors or recreations. He is buried 
in front of the church near by Father John Ludden. With the 
approbation of Bishop Ludden, a subscription was received by 
Rev. James B. Greene from the priests and parishioners to erect 
a monument to his memory. It was set up in the summer of 1888. 

In September, 1883, Rev. John J. Brennan was appointed by 
Bishop McNeirny to take charge of Florence and its out-missions. 
He was born in Roscommon County, Ireland. During his mis- 
sionary career in Alton, Albany and Syracuse, he did much hard 
labor, and took great pride in erecting churches wherever he 
could. In 1886 he went to Camden, and in 1887 was appointed 
to a new mission in Binghamton. He resigned that and became 
chaplain of St. Vincent's School, Utica, where he died December 
15, 1900. The funeral obsequies were at St. John's Church, 
Utica, December 18, with interment in St. Agnes' Cemetery. 

On March 7, 1886, Rev. James B. Greene, by appointment of 
Bishop McNeirny, assumed charge at Florence. He was born in 
the parish of Killtullagh, County Roscommon, Ireland, April 28, 
1853 ; studied in the parish national classical school till 1871, 
when he entered St. Jarlath's College, Tuam, County Galway. 
In September, 1874, he came to America, entered St. Joseph's 
Seminary, Troy, and for one year studied theology there. Be- 
cause of ill health he was permitted to return to Ireland and after 
a short vacation entered All-Hallows' College, Dublin, where he 
was ordained June, 1878. Returning to the diocese, he was ap- 
pointed September 11 of the same year as assistant to Rev. James 
Smith of Fulton. In September, 1879, he was transferred to St. 
Patrick's Church, Albany, as an assistant to Rev. Philip Smith. 
In November, 1880, he was appointed as an assistant to Rev. 
James M. Ludden at St. John's Church, Utica. In the summer 
of 1881 he assumed temporary charge of Warrensburgh and ad- 
joining missions, succeeding Rev. James A. Kelly, now the hon- 
ored dean at Oneida. In the early winter of 1881, Rev. J. S. M. 
Lynch, now the honored pastor of St. John 's, Utica, took charge, 
and Father Greene was sent to Pompey to assist Father Michael 
O'Reilly, who was then dangerously ill. In July, 1882, he was 
made pastor of Cleveland, Oswego County ; North Bay, Constan- 
tia and Central Square, and administered to these missions till 
his advent to Florence. 



FLORENCE. 271 

Since 1886 till the present, many improvements have been 
made. In 1889 all debts were paid and the mortgage canceled. 
In 1896 the McNamara Hotel property was acquired in Florence 
and the McOwen site in Redfield for a church. In 1902 two mar- 
ble side altars were erected, the sanctuary enlarged and later new 
Stations of the Cross and several handsome statues were placed. 
Like most country towns not accommodated by railroad or fac- 
tories, the population has greatly decreased and property les- 
sened in value. In 1860 the population of Florence was 2,802, 
now it is only about 1,350. 



ANNSVILLE 

ST. PATRICK'S parish of Taberg, with its outlying Mission 
of St. Ann's, six miles north of this village, covers the 
town of Annsville, situated in the northern part of Oneida 
County. It is contiguous to the parishes of Rome on the south- 
east, Florence and Camden on the west, Cleveland on the south- 
west, and Ogdensburg Diocese on the north. 

The to-wn was named Annsville in honor of the wife of the first 
settler, and the towTi seat, Taberg, received its name from a to^\Ti 
in Sweden, through the Oneida Iron and Glass Manufacturing 
Company, which originated in 1809, and began operations here. 
The population of the town is about 1,800, and that of Taberg 
about 350. 

It is well nigh impossible to fix the date of the coming of 
Catholics into this town, though it must have been in the forepart 
of the last century. These were all of the Irish race, though later 
on, about 1850, a number of German and French families also 
settled hereabouts. 

It was between the years 1840 and 1843 that the Irish fami- 
lies came into the northern part of Annsville and settled on lands 
purchased from one Philip Kearney, whose grant of land in- 
cluded a large part of the towns of Annsville and Florence. 
Many of these people had been previously employed in the con- 
struction of the Boston & Albany Railroad, and also of some of 
the lines of Central New York. 

The first Catholic priest to visit this vicinity was the venerable 
Father "William Beecham of Rome. His earliest appearance in 
the vicinity of Annsville was about 1840, when he came to Em- 
peyville (East Florence P. 0.) and celebrated Mass, baptizing 
seven children on that occasion. In the fall of 1842 he celebrated 
the first Mass in the town of Annsville, in a log building, the 
home of Edward Hennessy in North Annsville, and the second 
time in May, 1843, at the same place, and continued his occa- 
sional visits until the fall of 1845. In that year. Rev. Robert 
Kelliher came to Florence as first resident pastor. He then took 
charge of the Catholics of the town of Annsville, celebrating 
Mass, from time to time, in North Annsville, in private houses, 



ANNSVILLE. 273 

and also in a school-liouse about two miles from the present St. 
Ann's Church. In the summer of 1847 he purchased of James 
Nolan a half acre of land, to which was added, in 1853, another 
half acre, donated by the same parishioner. 

This plat of ground was used as a cemetery, the present St. 
Ann's Cemetery, the first interment being that of a child, John 
Golden, in July, 1848. 

The people, moreover, had come to the conclusion that the time 
had arrived to have a church of their own and in due time the 
first Catholic Church in the town of Annsville was erected, a 
frame building about 26 feet wide by 40 feet long, simply one 
room, that was not plastered for four or five years, and contain- 
ing but two pews, which belonged to David Murphy and James 
Nolan. In 1852, Father Kelliher transferred his ministry to 
Canada and is at present residing in Toronto. 

The next pastor of Florence was the Eev. John Fitzpatrick. 
He spoke occasionally in the Town Hall at Taberg, and non- 
Catholics vied with the parishioners in their eagerness to hear his 
eloquent words in behalf of Holy Church. He celebrated Mass 
once a month in the church of North Annsville. His ministry in 
Florence and the neighboring missions ceased in 1855, and Sche- 
nectady became the next scene of his labors. But the village of 
Taberg was destined to see the closing of his earthly career, as it 
was here, in 1868, that on his way to Florence, enfeebled by ill- 
health, he expired while visiting the family of James 'Connor. 
His funeral took place in Florence, his former parish, and his 
earthly place of rest is marked by an appropriate monument in 
St. Mary's Cemetery. 

In 1855, as the next pastor of Floirence, came the Rev. John 
Ludden. Although he had a number of missions to attend. 
Father Ludden managed to come to North Annsville about once a 
month to celebrate Mass, baptize the children, and when called 
upon to attend the sick calls. About 1870, however, his constant 
and laborious ministry was lightened by the advent of Rev. 
Thomas Walsh, whose sojourn at Florence made it possible to 
have Mass every other Sunday, by either one of the priests. 
Father Walsh was of a literary turn of mind, and occupied him- 
self rather assiduously with writing, the fruit of which was sev- 
eral books of Catholic instruction. 



274 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

He went away from Florence in 1875, and after exercising the 
holy ministry elsewhere, he died at Wick, St. Lawrence County, 
N. Y., on November 2, 1888, aged about 72 years. The solemn 
requiem services were held in St. Mary's Church, Potsdam, N. Y., 
and he was buried in its cemetery, where later on a monument 
was erected to his memory by his former parishioners of Nor- 
wood, N. Y. 

During the winter of 1874-75, the matter of erecting a new 
church in North Annsville was discussed, as the old one began to 
show marks of age, after twenty-eight years of service, and, more- 
over, its location was not central nor convenient, although there 
was a difference of opinion in regard to this point. Some were 
in favor of building on the old site, others wanted it where the 
present church stands, while others still deemed it advisable to 
place the new edifice in the village of Glenmore, as there it would 
be accessible not only to the Catholic population of North Anns- 
ville, but likewise to the Catholics of Taberg. These people, how- 
ever, did not take the same view of this question of accessibility, 
and consequently in 1875, the opportunity presenting itself of 
purchasing the Methodist Episcopal Church in Taberg, a lot was 
bought and the frame building was removed there. This action 
on the part of the Taberg Catholics upset the plans of the North 
Annsville people. For it had been finally decided by them to 
build in Glenmore, a lot had been obtained and excavations made 
for foundations. 

The last time Mass was celebrated in the old church was by 
Father Walsh, in July, 1875, on the occasion of the obsequies of 
James Nolan, a benefactor of the church, as already mentioned. 
While awaiting the new church, Mass was said in Glenmore in 
the ballroom of Morris B. O'Connor's Hotel, which was destroyed 
by fire in the following year, 1876. Rev. James Ludden, brother 
of the pastor, said Mass here once or twice during that interim. 

When these people, however, realized that their proposed 
church would serve only for their own section of the town, they 
decided to accept the offer of John S. Kelly, a parishioner, of a 
piece of land about two miles farther north than Glenmore, at 
Itelly 's Corners, as this location would be more central for them, 
and the property in Glenmore was afterwards sold. The people 
generously set to work in the fall of 1875, to prepare the site for 



TABERG. 275 

the new church. The contract for building being let to David 
Barry, John Enright and John Leary, parishioners, who also 
formed the building committee. The first Mass in the new St, 
Ann's Church, a frame structure, 40 feet by 60 feet, was cele- 
brated by Father Walsh on Palm Sunday of 1876, and in the 
same month of April the pastor, Father Ludden, commenced 
renting the pews, only a few, however, being taken. 



TABERG 

In this narrative so far, especial attention has been directed to 
the progress of Catholicity in the northern part of this town, 
where by reason of their numbers and their proximity to the 
mother parish of Florence, the Catholic people were moved by 
their zeal and love for their faith to an early organization. Dur- 
ing all those years, however, the several priests resident in Flor- 
ence, attended also to the spiritual wants of the Catholics in and 
about Taberg, offering up the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, from 
time to time, in the village in private houses, as well as in the 
school-house and the Town Hall. 

The first Catholic resident of Taberg, still remembered, as a 
very worthy man, was Patrick Murphy, employed, about 1835, 
in Jotham Warden's large tannery. Between the years 1848 and 
1855, when so many industries were flourishing about Taberg, a 
large number of Irishmen were employed. Many of these fam- 
ilies, who afterwards settled on farms hereabouts, had come 
directly from New York City, abandoning land there that has 
since become of great value. 

The time had now arrived, when, in the judgment of the eccle- 
siastical authority, the missions of Taberg and North Annsville 
should have a resident priest of their own, and thus form a new 
parish, and the Rev. Patrick B. McNulty, in October, 1876, as- 
sumed the position. He was a man of large physique, of consid- 
erable ability, and of advancing age and previously had held sev- 
eral charges. With his coming nearly every parishioner of St. 
Ann's hired a pew, and there was great enthusiasm. 

Under Father McNulty 's skillful direction a well-appointed 
rectory was built, adjoining the newly transformed St. Patrick's 
Church in Taberg. Unfortunately disagreements arose between 



276 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

pastor and people, and after a tenure of not quite two years, 
Father McNulty was appointed to Johnstown, N. Y., but after a 
few more years of active ministry he retired to Saratoga Springs, 
where his friend, Rev. John McMenomy, was pastor, and there he 
died in 1892, at about the age of 72 years. 

In October, 1878, the Rev. James J. Bloomer, then assistant 
pastor of St. Peter's Church, Rome, N. Y., assumed the pastor- 
ship of Taberg and North Annsville. By his genial manners, 
kind-hearted disposition and patient temperament, Father 
Bloomer was well qualified to fill the position, and the fond re- 
membrance the people of this parish still have of him fully testi- 
fies to the successful ministry he exercised among them for over 
six years. 

The legal entanglements in regard to the new rectory culmi- 
nated in its alienation at a sheriff 's sale, soon after the arrival of 
the new pastor, who always resided in the hotel conducted by 
those staunch Catholic people, Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Kelly. Dur- 
ing his pastorate Father Bloomer paid off some old debts, and 
did a great deal of work towards the completion of St. Ann's 
Church, and also in remodeling St. Patrick's, adding thereto a 
sanctuary, making the dimensions of the church 30 feet by 55 
feet, besides purchasing altar vessels, vestments, organs and 
sanctuary furniture. In the fall of 1884 he was appointed pas- 
tor of SS. Peter and Paul's Church at Canajoharie, N. Y., and 
was succeeded by the Rev. Francis J. Hainault, S. T. B., who offi- 
ciated for the first time on Sunday, November 30, 1884. 

Father Hainault was born in St. Mary's parish, Oswego, on 
August 15, 1855, attended St. Mary's Parochial School, the Os- 
wego High School, FaDey Seminary at Fulton, graduated in 
philosophy from L 'Assumption College, near IMontreal, pursued 
his theological studies at the Grand Seminary of INIontreal. his 
class inaugurating the new university, succursal of Laval Univer- 
sity of Quebec, and was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev. Charles 
Fabre on December 21, 1878. At the request of that prelate, 
Father Hainault was allowed by his Bishop, Rt. Rev. Francis ]\Ic- 
Neirny, of Albany, to remain for about a year in the Diocese of 
Montreal, where he was assistant successively in that city, St. 
Hubert and Riviere des Prairies, whence he was recalled to Al- 
bany Diocese, holding appointments in Cohoes, Baldwinsville, 



TABERG. 277 

Troy, and before coming to Taberg he had been for nearly four 
years chaplain of St. Joseph's House of Providence at Syracuse, 
and at the same time pastor of the Mission of Onondaga Hill, and 
Catholic chaplain of the Onondaga County Poor House and In- 
sane Asylum. 

Although the Catholics of this small parish of Taberg are in 
rather moderate circumstances, in general they have always re- 
sponded to the efforts of their pastor, and thus a retrospective 
view shows the accomplishment of many things. A parochial 
residence at an attractive point in the village, having an acre of 
land attached, was purchased immediately, and by the voluntary 
work of many parishioners and the expenditure of money, a great 
many improvements were gradually made to the house and 
grounds, transforming both into one of the handsomest pieces of 
property in the village. 

The desirability of a Catholic Cemetery at Taberg haAdng been 
long recognized, a number of the parishioners, principally of St. 
Patrick's, organized, purchased in 1891 three acres of land on the 
outskirts of the village, had it surveyed and laid out in avenues 
and lots, and did other necessary work. In the following year, 
the property came under ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the ad- 
ministration of a regular board of trustees, and on October 6, 
1892, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, on the occasion of adminis- 
tering Confirmation, consecrated it under the title of St. Pat- 
rick 's Cemetery. St. Ann 's Cemetery was consecrated by Bishop 
Ludden in 1888, after the property had been improved under 
Father Hainault's direction. 

On Sunday afternoon, February 24, 1901, Father Hainault was 
suddenly stricken down, and after nearing death's door, was 
obliged to relinquish his charge and seek elsewhere the recupera- 
tion of his health. 

The Rev. Anthony J. Logan, but recently ordained, then assist- 
ant at St. Patrick's Church, Binghamton, N. Y., was appointed 
to take charge of the parish, and during his administration of 
seventeen months, he manifested commendable zeal and activity, 
especially in undertaking the interior embellishment of St. Ann 's 
Church, after its foundation had been partly rebuilt. This work 
was sorely needed, but it had not been fully completed when on 
September 14, 1902, Father Hainault, now restored to health, re- 



278 DIOCESE OF SYKACUSE. 

assumed the pastorship, Father Logan, some weeks later, becom- 
ing pastor of St. ]\Ialaehi 's Church at Sherburne. 

Although after the damage caused by fire in St. Patrick's on 
November 30, 1900, that church had been put in very neat condi- 
tion, towards the fall of 1903, Father Hainault began a general 
work of improvement throughout the parish. The finishing touch 
has been given St. Patrick 's Church by the placing therein of ele- 
gant stained glass windows, gifts of Rev. Fathers Bloomer and 
Hainault, of the League of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, of St. Pat- 
rick's Choir, and of present as well as of former parishioners, 
and, finally, new Stations of the Cross are about to be canonically 
erected. At St. Ann's a similar completion of interior adorn- 
ment is contemplated, a handsome stained glass window has been 
placed above the altar, and several of the others already prom- 
ised, the Stations of the Cross having been already canonically 
erected in 1897. The various properties are now in very good 
order. 

It may be noted here that the Catholic people of this parish 
have always been devoted to the education of their children, as 
evidenced by the large number of young men and women who 
have followed the profession of teaching, several, indeed, having 
attained the highest grades. In this connection, mention should 
be made of the now venerable John B. Fitzgerald, who for years 
was a leader among the Irish people of Annsville and filled the 
highest offices in the town, and to whose ability as a teacher many 
owe their primary education. 

A number of Annsville 's Catholic sons and daughters have dis- 
tinguished themselves in the various professions. She has given 
to the Holy Church Rev. Thomas A. Powers of Logan, Ohio. 

The Catholic population of this town, like that of many others, 
has in the course of years considerably diminished, both by the 
death of many old parishioners, and by the various attractions 
elsewhere of many young men and women, even of a number of 
families. At the present time, including several families from 
the towns of Rome and Lee that have pews in St. Patrick's 
Church, the families attending that church number about 48, 
the population about 200, while at St. Ann's Church there are 
about 49 families, the population being about 215 — making in the 
parish a total of not quite 100 families and about 415 souls. 



CLINTON 

REV. WILLIAM C. COGHLAN, the founder and organizer 
of St. Mary's Church, was born at Charleville, County 
Cork, Ireland. He came to St. John's Church, Utica, in 
1850, the same year in which the first company for the manufac- 
ture of iron was formed in the town of Kirkland. On November 
12, 1850, he was appointed the first pastor of Clinton, Waterville, 
Clayville, Hamilton, Deerfield, etc., and opened a parish register 
on November 21 of that year. "We learn this from an entry 
which Father Coghlan himself wrote on the first page of the reg- 
ister. The entry is as follows: "Waterville, Clayville, Hamil- 
ton, Clinton and Deerfield, etc., parish register. Commenced 
this 21st day of November, 1850, Utica, N. Y. Kev. William C. 
Coghlan was appointed first pastor, November 12, 1850, by Et. 
Eev. Dr. McCloskey, Bishop of Albany." Bishop McCloskey 
evidently appointed Father Coghlan to assist the saintly Father 
Stokes, who was then pastor of St. John's, Utica, and, at the same 
time assigned to him the pastoral care of the missions mentioned 
above. In the "History of the Town of Kirkland," it is said: 
"Eev. William C. Coghlan made his first professional visit to 
Clinton, January 6, 1851. He celebrated Mass at the house of 
John Eeilly, January 14, 1851. The number of the congregation 
at that time was sixteen. ' ' 

On April 30, 1851, a lot for a new church was purchased of 0. 
S. Williams and wife for $125. Another lot was bought in 1859 
for $150 and added to the first. 

As already stated, the first Mass was celebrated at John Eeilly 's 
house, which is now the home of William Burgess of Kellogg 
street. Father Coghlan afterward celebrated Mass on several 
occasions at John Morrow's house, which is now occupied by 
Ealph Gale of Kellogg street. Mr. and Mrs. John Morrow, who 
had been here for some time, welcomed Father Coghlan to their 
home, and treated him in the most hospitable manner. Later, 
Terence 'Brien asked Judge Williams, who had control over the 
old school-house, which stood on the east side of the park, or vil- 



280 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

lage green, on the site on which is now seen the residence of F. A. 
Root, to give the Catholics permission to use the school-house on 
Sundays. He granted them permission, provided they would not 
annoy other church-goers, and bring down upon himself the cen- 
sure of the latter, by crowding on the sidewalk in front of the 
school. From that time till St. Mary's Church was dedicated, 
]\Iass was celebrated at the old school-house. The first Mass at 
the school-house was celebrated on Easter Sunday, April 11, 1852. 
Others say that the first Mass said in the school-house was cele- 
brated as early as August 9, 1851. 

The building of St. Mary's Church was commenced in May, 
1852, the year in which the company which was formed during 
the year 1850 for the manufacture of iron, was reorganized with 
larger capital and brighter prospects. The church was finished 
in 1854, and was dedicated by Rt. Rev. John IMcCloskey, then 
Bishop of Albany, on October 25 in the same year. 

Father Coghlan came to reside in Clinton May 1, 1854, and 
took possession of the house on Marvin street, in which he lived 
up to the time of his death. He died July 7, 1862. During his 
pastorate the congregation prospered and grew more numerous 
every year. In the building of the church he received much as- 
sistance from the citizens of Clinton, especially from Judge Wil- 
liams. 

Father Coghlan was a very affable, genial gentleman. His 
manner was kind and sympathetic, his conversation sparkling 
and racy, his friendships strong and unaffected. Even the rec- 
ords of the parish register are punctuated with his crisp and 
witty sayings. Altogether, he was a charming character, and be- 
came very popular. This very popularity provoked criticisms, 
but those criticisms served only to bring the virtues of his inner 
life into bold relief and greater prominence. He was, also, a 
hard-working and fervent priest. He made a deep impression 
for good on our Catholic people, and all who recall him, honor 
his name and revere his memory. 

The Rev. Edward Bayard was the second pastor of St. Mary's 
Church. He was born at a place called Isle Perrot, near Mont- 
real. He made his studies and was ordained in Canada. After 
his ordination he was a priest of the Diocese of London, Ontario. 
His brother, the Rev. Joseph Bayard, was a prominent pastor in 



CLINTON. 281 

that diocese. From the Diocese of London Father Bayard was in- 
cardinated into the Diocese of Albany, and was appointed pastor 
of this church in July, 1862. On April 1, 1863, he purchased the 
house in which Father Coghlan had lived, and which he had 
owned, from the latter 's heirs, for $1,500. The old rectory then 
became the property of St. Mary's Church. Father Bayard ful- 
filled the duties of his pastorate with marked ability up to Au- 
gust 9, 1863, when he was transferred to St. John's Church, Al- 
bany. He was a warm-hearted, generous host, a gentleman of 
courtly manners, and a priest of splendid talents and varied ac- 
quirements. The Bishop subsequently appointed him to the pas- 
torate of St. Mary's, Ballston, Saratoga County, and later as- 
signed to him the pastoral charge of St. Mary 's Church, at Bald- 
winsville, in this diocese. Failing health compelled him to resign 
the pastorate of the last-mentioned church. After spending some 
time at St. Mary's, Syracuse, he went South for his health and 
died at Tampa, Florida, where his remains are buried. 

Rev. Peter O'Eeilly was the third rector of this church. He 
was born in the parish of Castlerahan, County Cavan, Ireland, 
was educated at All Hallow's College, Dublin, and was ordained 
in 1862. In November of the same year, soon after his arrival in 
Albany, he was sent to minister to the spiritual needs of the 
Catholics of Carthage, N. Y., and of the adjoining missions. On 
August 10, 1863, Bishop McCloskey appointed him Father Bay- 
ard's successor. He said his first public Mass in St. Mary's 
Church on August 15, the Feast of the Assumption. At the be- 
ginning of his pastorate he found the church encumbered by a 
debt of $1,589.41. He paid off this debt in a short time. 

At a meeting held in the vestry of St. Mary's in January, 1865, 
it was decided to enlarge the church. Its enlargement and refit- 
ting cost $6,415.78. This amount was paid in full by January, 
1870. On August 18, 1871, the contract for the building of the 
present rectory was let. It was built at a cost of $13,380.48. 
Every obligation was met on time, and the mortgage was extin- 
guished on February 20, 1884. 

He had intended to erect a church in keeping with the new rec- 
tory, but the arduous duties of the priesthood had undermined 
and enfeebled his once robust health, and this enf eeblement de- 
terred him from undertaking the very work he had contemplated 



282 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

for several years. He contented himself with deeding to St. 
Mary's Church two lots; one to the west of the original church 
lot, the other lying between the rectory and the residence of Mrs. 
Ives. 

From this brief review of his administration of the temporali- 
ties of the parish it is at once apparent that his pastorate was, 
at least in this direction, successful in a marked degree. But it 
was in another direction he achieved his greatest success. For 
twenty-nine years he was pastor of St. Mary 's Church, and at his 
death he left after him a well instructed and truly Catholic peo- 
ple. This is the highest compliment that can be paid to the mem- 
ory of any deceased pastor. During all those years his life was 
blameless, his character above reproach, and his fidelity to every 
priestly duty conscientious and unceasing. He was an honest, 
upright man, a pious priest, a prudent pastor, an able adminis- 
trator, a wise counsellor, and a loyal, steadfast friend. His 
friendship did not blind him to the shortcomings of those who en- 
joyed his confidence; on the contrary, he, betimes, satirized their 
.faults and foibles in a caustic sentence, or convicted them of folly 
by his droll, bantering comments. He was happy in the society 
of priests, and his house was the Mecca of his sacerdotal brothers. 
He delighted to involve them in a theological, or other wrangle 
and then sit in silence and enjoy the din. When drawn into the 
fray he was a dangerous antagonist, and rarely suffered defeat. 
He loved quiet and peace, but was not a whiner or weakling in 
battle. He bore the heaviest blows without a murmur, and deliv- 
ered the severest thrusts with a tormenting smile. Suddenly, one 
of his quaint sayings ended the strife, and created general merri- 
ment. He hated cant and hypocrisy, but admired the good and 
true. His penetrating eye and sharp tongue could easily detect 
and puncture a humbug. Playful, rather than aggressive, he 
sometimes indulged in strictures, and conveyed the impression of 
harshness and severity; but a more intimate acquaintance dis- 
pelled this delusion, and revealed his kindly nature. Circum- 
spect, conservative and prudent, he shunned danger, and had a 
jealous care of his good name and character. He was a man of 
strong will, resolute purpose, uncommon sense and great shrewd- 
ness. He would succeed in any business. He was a gracious 
host, and dispensed a generous hospitality. Above all, he was a 



CLINTON. 283 

conscientious priest, edifying in his private life, faithful to his 
official duties, loyal to the Catholic Church. Father O'Reilly 
died on May 2, 1892. 

In January, 1892, when Father O'Reilly's health was com- 
pletely broken, he sought and obtained help from our Rt. Rev. 
Bishop. The latter, very considerately, sent Father Donohoe, 
who was then assistant at St. Lucy 's Church, Syracuse, to relieve 
his uncle from his onerous duties for a time. All then hoped that 
a temporary rest would restore Father O'Reilly to his former 
vigor, but, much to their regret, their hopes were never realized. 
Soon after Father Donohoe 's arrival, his uncle started on a vaca- 
tion that terminated in his death on May 2, 1892, in the 63d year 
of his age. His devoted nephew brought his remains from Brook- 
lyn, where he died, to Clinton, and a faithful people sorrowfully 
awaited their arrival, and bitterly deplored the death of their be- 
loved pastor. His funeral was held on May 5, 1892, and all that 
was mortal of Rev. Peter O'Reilly was then laid to rest in St. 
Mary's Cemetery. 

From the first days of February to July 2, 1892, Father Dono- 
hoe administered the affairs of St. Mary's Church with marked 
ability and decided success. His energy, zeal and eloquence made 
a favorable and lasting impression on the congregation, and his 
whole-souled manner and friendly intercourse so ingratiated him 
in their affections that a committee waited on the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
and requested his appointment to the pastorate of St. Mary's 
Church. This was a striking proof of their friendship and es- 
teem, a flattering tribute to his efficiency and character, and a 
notable manifestation of the reverence and love with which they 
cherished the memory of his departed uncle. 

On June 2, 1892, the occasion of Father O'Reilly's Month's 
Mind, the Rt. Rev. Bishop appointed the Rev. James O'Reilly 
pastor of St. Mary's Church, and on Saturday, July 2, the pres- 
ent incumbent arrived in Clinton, and forthwith entered upon his 
pastorate. 

Rev. James O'Reilly was born in Lisgray, Virginia, County 
Cavan, Ireland, on July 26, 1843. After finishing his full course 
at All Hallow's College, Dublin, he was ordained for the Diocese 
of Albany, N. Y., by Rt. Rev. David Moriarty, Bishop of Kerry, 
on June 11, 1867. On July 26, his 24tli birthday, he sailed from 



284 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Queenstown on the City of Baltimore, arriving in New York 
after a voyage of ten days. 

He reached Albany in due time, and assisted in St. John's 
Church in that city during the retreat of the clergy in 1867. He 
was then sent to Port Henry, N. Y., to take the place of the Rev. 
Father Harney at St. Patrick's Church during the latter 's vaca- 
tion. On his return to Albany he was appointed assistant to the 
venerable Father Beecham, then pastor of St. Peter's Church, 
Rome, N. Y. He arrived in Rome on October 4, 1867, and re- 
mained there until August 16, 1869, when Rt. Rev. John J. Con- 
roy assigned to him the charge of the missions of Fayetteville and 
Lafayette in Onondaga County. 

During his pastorate at Fayetteville the church and rectory 
were built and ground for a cemetery was purchased and laid 
out. He attended the mission of Lafayette up to 1873, when it 
was attached to Pompey. He started a new mission the same 
year in Jamesville, N. Y., and ministered to the people of Fay- 
etteville and Jamesville up to July 2, 1892, when he entered upon 
the pastorate of St. Mary's Church, Clinton. 

The Rev. John W. McDermott, S. T. L., has assisted Father 
O 'Reilly for a number of years. 

The erection of a larger and more beautiful St. Mary's was 
started in the summer of 1909 under Father O'Reilly's direction, 
and, pending its completion, services are held in Society Hall. 



The Church of the Annunciation, Clark 's Mills, the out-mission 
of St. Mary's parish, was built in 1909. It is a frame structure 
of Gothic architecture and has a seating capacity of 400. 



WATERVILLE 

PRIOR to the time that Catholics began to settle in Waterville 
this community consisted of men who, either themselves or 
their fathers, had fled from civil and religious persecution 
in Europe, and were now standing firmly on and loudly boasting 
of "private judgment" as the ultimate Judge in religious mat- 
ters. How they, denying infallibility, could consistently afford to 
sneer and scoff at any man's religious opinions and still expect 
to escape the guilt of self conceit, we cannot understand. Ra- 
tional beings must have a motive for their actions, but sometimes 
that motive is a sentiment or a feeling born of ignorance or preju- 
dice. 

The British press, which exerted a great influence on American 
Protestantism, as an apology for the tyranny and inhuman 
cruelty of the government towards the Irish people, continually 
traduced and maligned the character of the Irish Catholics. 
Everywhere the press had influence they were represented as un- 
intelligent, uneducated brutes thirsting for the blood of their 
Protestant neighbor. Let us see: The government robbed him 
of his land and then pointed the finger of scorn at his poverty; 
they burned his churches and his schools, murdered and exiled 
his priests and his teachers, made education a felony and then 
pointed the finger of scorn at his ignorance. An outlaw, for love 
of his country and religion, he fled in hunger and thirst to the 
mountains or to foreign shores from the vengeance of a penal 
code that would disgrace the grand Turk himself. This was 
really pleading in justification of their persecution, the very vices 
their persecution engendered. Who could conceive of any better 
means to brutalize a people or to generate hatred than the law 
which granted to the son or daughter as a reward of their em- 
bracing the Protestant faith, the right to take possession of their 
father's property and perhaps to turn their gray headed father 
and mother out of doors. It was this legislation which drew these 
scathing words from the poet Moore : 

"Unprized are the sons till they've learned to betray, 

Undistinguished they live if they shame not their sires; 
And the torch that would light them thro' dignity's way 

Must be caught from the pile where their country expires." 

We deny that Irish Catholics hated their Protestant neighbors 
as Protestants, and we appeal to the historic fact that no nation 



286 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

so distinctly Catholic has ever so completely intrusted her destiny 
to and so fondly cherished the memory of her Protestant leaders 
— Emmet, Wolf Tone, Grattan, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Martin, 
Mitchell, John and Henry Shiers, Isaac Butt and Charles Stew- 
art Parnell. But who will deny that the Irish Catholic had good 
reason to hate his Protestant neighbor as a political oppressor 
and a robber, who continually fomented new disturbances to be- 
get new confiscations until the land had passed from the hands 
of the natives to the hands of the intruders. 

"We cannot state definitely at what time Catholics first settled 
in this community, but it is certain that there were very few 
Catholics around Waterville eighty years ago. The few Irish 
Catholics who settled here received a welcome akin to that which 
we now extend to a much needed draught horse or machine. But 
it is not certain the man was treated with quite as much considera- 
tion. He knew there was a prejudice against him. He was pre- 
pared to meet it. He did an honest day's work and his further 
service was required. His tormentors perhaps little knew how 
deep the wound they were inflicting on a sensitive, religious and 
patriotic soul. It was a sneer at his religion, a scoff at his priests 
and his country, all of which were as dear to him as his own life. 
Although inured to persecution at home, he could not understand 
it in America. When he came for consolation to the Church he 
revered and the priest he loved and spoke of his trials he was 
given a word picture of the Savior on the cross, and told that as 
he valued his soul he must bear his tribulations as his fathers did 
before him. He must return good for evil, he must give an 
honest day's work, although his master's table was not lavishly 
supplied during the week, except on Friday, when his religion 
forbade him to partake. 

Thomas Collins arrived in Waterville in the year 1837. We 
are informed that he was the first person to apply to Utica for a 
priest to attend a sick call. In 1839 Rev. David W. Bacon cele- 
brated the first Llass in Waterville in the home of Andrew Brad- 
ley on Stafford avenue, now occupied by Lawrence Finnegan. 
The congregation consisted of eighteen persons, amongst whom 
were Andrew Bradley, Hugh Shields, Thomas Collins, Andrew 
Glenn and Michael Ready. Bryan Shields, who was always 
spoken of as the pillar and stay of the Church, arrived in Water- 



WATERVILLE. 287 

ville later. Father Bacon, after his visit to Waterville, continued 
his trip to Hamilton, Norwich and Binghamton. Father Bacon 
was later made pastor at Ogdensburg, and later still in Brooklyn. 
At the close of the year 1854 he received the bulls appointing him 
first Bishop of Portland, Me. 

Father Bacon had planted and others had watered, and just^ 
as the Holy Ghost was calling Father Bacon to rule the Church' 
of Maine, his little congregation to which he first broke the bread 
of life, after fifteen years of struggle, were able to dedicate to 
God their first church October 26, 1854. Father Bacon died in 
his native city. New York, in the year 1874. 

From 1839 to 1845 we have no evidence of how often or what 
priests attended the little congregation. In 1845 the Eev. John 
McMenomy visited "Waterville and purchased the lot upon which 
the church now stands. No effort, it seems, was made to erect a 
church for some years later. Rev. John McMenomy was removed 
from Utica to Albany, later to Little Falls and Syracuse, where 
he built St. John's Church. In 1892 he died at St. Peter's 
Church, Saratoga. 

In the same year Rev. William Howard visited Waterville. 
Father Howard, after laboring successfully in many parishes in 
the diocese, was finally pastor in Ilion, which charge failing 
health compelled him to resign. He retired to Herkimer, where 
he died in 1888. He was known as the church builder, having 
built ten churches in various parts of the country. He was evi- 
dently more successful at building than buying churches. We 
refer to an incident which occurred during one of his visits in 
Waterville. The Presbyterian Church, which stood on or near 
the site of the Brunswick Hotel, was being sold at auction. 
Father Howard bid and his bid was accepted. Not having the 
cash they throttled him, like the poor debtor in the gospel, say- 
ing : ' ' Pay what thou owest. ' ' He was arrested for buying prop- 
erty on false pretences and held until Andrew Glenn and Bryan 
Shields came to his rescue. 

During these years the congregation was steadily increasing. 
In 1848 Rev. Patrick Carahar was appointed assistant pastor at 
St. John 's, Utica, and attended Waterville at least once a month. 

Father Carahar undertook the task of building a church. He 
traveled around the whole neighborhood soliciting their modest 



288 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

contributions. They must, indeed, have been modest, as we are 
informed that men received no more than $7 or $8 per month. 
The contract was let for $2,500. This included nothing but just 
the frame of the church — plastering, pews, windows, altar, etc., 
was a later consideration. The church was built in the year 1850 
and finished in the year 1853. Rev. William C. Coghlan was ap- 
pointed pastor of Waterville, Clayville, Hamilton, Clinton and 
Deerfield, etc., on November 21, 1850. 

There are those who seem to think that the first Mass was said 
in the church on Christmas Day, 1850, by the Rev. Bernard Cara- 
har, a brother of Rev. Patrick Carahar. That the Rev. Bernard 
Carahar said the Mass on this occasion seems to be admitted by 
all; but it is claimed that Rev. Michael E. Clarke said Mass in 
the church during its construction, just as it was closed in. This 
could not have taken place earlier than October 28, 1850, the date 
on which Father Clarke came to St. John 's Church, Utica. 

Before the erection of the church Mass was celebrated in the 
home of Bryan Shields on Mill street, in the Berrill foundry on 
Mill street, and in the ballroom of the American Hotel. The 
priest visiting Waterville during the missionary period usually 
made headquarters at the home of Bryan Shields, later with 
Michael Ready and later still with Peter Nolan. 

In 1851 and 1852, the first years of the church's existence, a 
reasonable estimate of the congregation would average sixty per- 
sons, representing the Catholics from Paris Hill, Bridgewater, 
Brookfield and Oriskany Falls. Making reasonable allowance for 
the distance and other difficulties of attendance the figures do not 
represent as healthy a growth as we anticipated. It illustrates 
the fact that Catholic people do not wish to settle where they can- 
not have regular religious attention. But the church once estab- 
lished the congregation takes new life. 

On October 26, 1854, St. Bernard's Church was dedicated by 
Rt. Rev. John McCloskey, the Bishop of Albany, afterwards 
Archbishop of New York, and the first Cardinal of the United 
States. 

In the year 1853 Henry M. Walsh purchased from Mr. Cady 
the two acres of land now known as the old cemetery. In Octo- 
ber, 1854, a subscription was taken up to pay for the cemetery, 
and all giving $5 were entitled to a lot. 



WATERVILLE. 289 

In July, 1862, Eev. Edward Bayard succeeded Father Cogh- 
]an. In August, 1863, Rev. Peter O'Reilly was appointed to suc- 
ceed Father Bayard and served till the close of 1867, when a resi- 
dent pastor was appointed in the person of Rev. Philip J. Smith. 

During the administration of Father 'Reilly the little church 
was built in Clayville, and also in Oriskany Falls. We now begin 
to realize how the Catholic population of these missions was in- 
creasing. The little band of eighteen who heard the first Mass 
said in this community has grown to four flourishing congrega- 
tions, demanding a resident pastor. These facts also emphasize 
how thoroughly religious are the Catholic people. It is only 
under restraint and necessity that they can be induced to settle 
where they cannot have ample religious attention. 

Father O'Reilly was the last priest who attended Waterville 
as a mission. He continued as pastor at Clinton until May 2, 
1892. Father 'Reilly is remembered in Waterville not only as 
a former pastor, but as a neighbor and frequent visitor at every 
ceremony and function in the church during the administration 
of all succeeding pastors. For a fuller account of the lives and 
labors of Father O'Reilly and his predecessors, the histories of 
St. Mary's, Clinton, and St. John's, Utiea, should be consulted. 

Father Smith was born in the parish of Kilenkare, County 
Cavan, Ireland, and ordained at All Hallow's College, Dublin. 
Shortly after his arrival at Albany, he was appointed pastor of 
Waterville, with Clayville and West Winfield as out-missions. 
Father Smith was a splendid type of his race, priestly in his 
character, genial and affable in his manner, and like all the old 
pioneers of his school his name is still mentioned with reverence 
amongst his old parishioners. In 1874 he was removed to St. Pat- 
rick's Church, Albany, and succeeded by the Rev. Thomas W. 
'Reilly. Rev. T. W. 'Reilly was ordained at St. Joseph 's Pro- 
vincial Seminary, Troy, N. Y. He was a zealous, charitable and 
hard-working priest, and during his four years' administration 
did much to improve the church, to beautify and adorn the ceme- 
tery. In 1878 he was removed to Syracuse and later to Whites- 
boro, where he died. 

Father O'Reilly was succeeded by Rev. John J. McDonald. 
During his administration he built the parochial residence and 
enlarged the church to more than double its original seating ca- 



290 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

pacity. He was transferred to St. Patrick's, Utica, and, later, to 
St. Patrick's, Binghamton, where he died, July 3, 1907. 

Father McDonald was succeeded October 4, 1888, by the late 
lamented Rev. James V. Donnelly, bom in the city of Albany 
and ordained at the Grand Seminary, Montreal. 

Father Donnelly was a modest, unassuming priest, yet con- 
vinced that he was right, no man more obstinately pursued his 
way. All who came in contact with him were convinced of the 
thorough honesty of his character and purpose in life. Kind and 
charitable to all in need, he was especially beloved by the old and 
enfeebled and the children of his parish to whom he devoted 
much of his time and attention. Liberal and hospitable in his 
home, yet close and exacting in church finances, he thus succeeded 
in paying the mortgage of $3,000 and left in the treasury in the 
neighborhood of that sum as a fund for a new church. His sud- 
den and unexpected death was a grief to his many friends as well 
as to his congregation. He died October 13, 1902, lamented by 
every member of his congregation. 

On October 21, 1902, the Rev. Patrick Donohoe, born in the 
parish of Kilenkare, County Cavan, Ireland, was appointed to 
succeed the late Father Donnelly. A nephew of the Rev. Peter 
O'Reilly, his assistant at Clinton, and, after his venerable uncle's 
death, administrator of the parish, he was welcomed to St. Ber- 
nard's as an old-time friend. During his pastorate, which con- 
tinued until July, 1907, when he became pastor of St. Mary's, 
Cortland, the building fund was materially increased by means 
of monthly subscriptions, pledged for a period of years by the in- 
dividual members of each parish family. 

The present pastor, the Rev. Dennis Joseph Bustin, succeeded 
Father Donohoe. Born in Sheshequin, Pa., June 18, 1869, he was 
ordained priest March 10, 1900, at the Rochester Cathedral. His 
first appointment was as assistant at the Church of the Immacu- 
late Conception, that city, where he remained until May 1, 1901, 
when he returned to the Diocese of Syracuse as assistant to 
Father McDonald, at St. Patrick's, Binghamton. He was ap- 
pointed pastor of St. Bernard's in July, 1907. 

Father Bustin continues the collection of the fund which will 
be used in constructing a permanent church in place of the pres- 
ent temporary building. 

Paris Hill, Oneida County, is attended from "Waterville. 



CAMDEN 

THE village of Camden, situated eighteen miles northwest of 
Rome, was settled direct from Connecticut in 1879. At 
present this ' ' Queen Village ' ' of the county has a popula- 
tion of 2,700. The history of Catholicity does not appear con- 
spicuous in tradition in this town much before 1847. There is a 
record of one Irish Catholic having been seen in the village in 
1808. In the early forties a familiar figure on the country roads, 
mounted on horseback with vestments strapped behind him, was 
R«v. William Beecham of Rome, on his way to attend the Catho- 
lics of Florence. "Whether he ever celebrated Mass for the few 
Catholic families in Camden is not known with certainty. 
Whether Father Kelliher, the first resident pastor of Florence, 
ever said Mass in the village, is likewise uncertain. In all proba- 
bility neither did, since the oldest people have left the tradition 
of going to Mass to Florence. The early Catholic settlers in 
Camden came from Florence, whither, tradition has it. Father 
Beecham of Rome (after the completion of the Erie Canal and 
the Utica & Schenectady Railroad) advised them to go and settle 
on farms. The completion of the Rome, Watertown & Ogdens- 
burg Railroad in 1849 left several new Catholic families as resi- 
dents of the village. Several German Catholic families have 
since settled from time to time. Early in 1852 Rev. John Fitz- 
Patrick succeeded Father Kelliher at Florence. Filled with a 
missionary spirit and a passion for organizing parishes and build- 
ing churches, this tall, dignified Irish priest soon set out from 
Florence to pursue his favored work. Churches in Cleveland, 
North Bay and Camden mark his zeal during the few years of his 
pastorate of St. Mary's, Florence. The latter part of August, 
1852, he organized the Catholic families of Camden and pur- 
chased a lot from one Carpenter, and the old Wesleyan Methodist 
Church, which was then moved to the corner of Church and 
Third streets and dedicated under the title of St. John the Evan- 
gelist, September 7. Father FitzPatrick dwelt for three years in 
Camden, opposite the present rectory, in the house now occupied 



292 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

by I. D. West. He was succeeded in 1855 by Rev. John Ludden, 
cousin of the present Bishop of Syracuse. 

For upwards of twenty years Rev. John Ludden, a clergyman 
of imposing figure, indefatigable industry and of attractive per- 
sonal qualities, attended Camden's Catholics almost monthly. 
His whole charge was a small and uninfluential society when he 
accepted it from Bishop Conroy of Albany, but he made it a 
flourishing body, one which filled in the public eye the position it 
deserved. Not satisfied with his work in Camden, he laid the 
seeds in the territory tributary to it so well that it requires six 
priests now to look after the Catholics where he strove single- 
handed thirty years ago. 

In 1876 Rt. Rev. Bishop McNeirny erected Camden into a par- 
ish with the outlying missions of Williamstown, Sand Bank, 
Pulaski and Sandy Creek. Rev. Patrick H. Beecham was ap- 
pointed the first resident pastor. Father Beecham, just ordained, 
came to his new charge with an activity and energetic zeal which 
soon endeared him to his people. In 1884 he built St. Patrick's 
Church at Williamstown, and also purchased the present site of 
St. John the Evangelist's Church in Pulaski. Two cemeteries 
were purchased, beautifully fitted up by him and all properties 
left completely out of debt. He remained in charge of the Cam- 
den parish during the ten years between 1876 and 1886. 

Father Beecham was succeeded in March, 1886, by the late 
Rev. J. J. Brennan. Father Brennan, a fine appearing gentle- 
man, scholarly and eloquent, who had built during his long 
priestly career in the Diocese of Alton, 111., and Albany, N. Y., 
thirteen Catholic churches in all, remained only about a year, 
when he was transferred to Binghamton. He died in December, 
1901, at Utica, while chaplain of St. Vincent's Industrial School 
of that city. 

On August 30, 1887, Rev. John H. McGraw, now pastor of St. 
Patrick's Church, Clayville, was appointed his successor. Father 
McGraw brought to these extensive missions a zeal soon to be 
tried "as by fire." On Ash Wednesday afternoon, 1889, the old 
church, which had been in use since the days of Father FitzPat- 
rick, was gutted by fire, so that it would no longer pay to repair 
it. It was then decided to build a new frame church on the site 
occupied by the old one, the latter being moved aside to the rear 



CAMDEN. 293 

of a carriage shop, where it still stands. The work on the present 
building was under way in a few months and in September of 
the same year the cornerstone was laid by Father McGraw. The 
Eev. Dr. James O'Hara of St. Mary's Church, Syracuse, 
preached the sermon. The Rev. Fathers Toomy of Utica and 
Tiernan of Syracuse were the chanters on the occasion. The com- 
pletion of the church was hastened and on Christmas of the same 
year Mass was said for the first time, though the church was not 
entirely finished. The final work of its construction was reached 
in February, 1890. 

About this time the mission of Sand Bank was connected as an 
out-mission to Pulaski (a parish since April 12, 1888), leaving 
from that time "Williamstown as the only out-mission of Camden. 
Father McGraw, having administered the affairs of Camden in a 
most commendable manner during the seven years of his tenure 
and winning the esteem of all in the spiritual upbuilding of the 
parish, irrespective of religious affiliations, was appointed to 
Clayville and assumed charge of that parish, June 1, 1894. As 
the successor of Father McGraw in Camden, Rev. Joseph S. Tier- 
nan, appointed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, from the assistant- 
ship of St. Patrick's Church, Binghamton, N. Y., assumed charge 
June 1, 1894. He is still the pastor of this small but beautiful 
parish church. Born January 9, 1861, at Holland Patent, about 
thirty-one miles east of Camden, educated at the village academy, 
St. Charles College, Md., St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, up to the 
time of his ordination by Rt. Rev. Bishop McNeirny, December 
22, 1888, Father Tiernan 's first appointment was to St. John's 
Cathedral. Four months later he was transferred to St. John 
the Baptist's Church, Syracuse. His appointment to Bingham- 
ton followed a nine months ' absence on sick leave and dated from 
July 22, 1903. In Camden he continued with indefatigable spirit 
the work of his predecessors. From 1894 to the present time im- 
provements have gone on both at St. John's Church, Camden, 
and at St. Patrick's Church, Williamstown. In March, 1895, the 
church mortgage of $1,060 was paid; the churches were roofed 
with steel, frescoed, sanctuaries enlarged and new altars, statues 
and electric lighting installed. In 1897 a parish rectory was pur- 
chased and enlarged at a cost of $1,000. Other improvements for 
the convenience of teams, carriages for the long drives, resulted 



294 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

in the building of a barn. The house was built by Banker Cur- 
tiss in 1852, and is pictured on the Oneida County map of 1858 
as the finest residence in the village. During the fifteen years of 
Father Tiernan's administration, Mass has always been cele- 
brated every Sunday and holy day at Camden and Williamstown, 
excepting at Williamstown, from the Feast of All Saints to Eas- 
ter Sunday, during which period on alternate Sundays at 11 
o 'clock. One exception to this rule, however, occurred from May, 
1899, to January, 1901, when, during the eighteen months follow- 
ing the death of Rev. Charles Durocher of Pulaski, Bishop Lud- 
den committed to the temporary charge of Father Tiernan, Alt- 
mar (thus changed from Sand Bank by the Rome, Watertown & 
Ogdensburg Railroad authorities), Richland, Sandy Creek, La- 
cona and Boyleston. During that time there was no Mass in 
Camden and Williamstown on the last Sunday of every month. 
Six Sundays of the year were given alternately to Altmar and 
Boyleston, with an early Mass at Lacona. 

On February 1, 1901, Father Tiernan, relieved from the care 
of the missions which belonged to the Pulaski parish at the time 
of Father Durocher 's death, returned with renewed zeal to the 
completion of the improvements of St. John's and St. Patrick's 
churches, in preparation for the celebration of the golden jubilee 
of St. John's Church, Camden, September 7, 1902. The painting 
and decoration of the entire properties, both in Camden and in 
Williamstown, in 1899, was terminated in 1901 by the rich deco- 
ration in white and gold of the main altars in both churches. 

In July, 1902, a beautiful set of chimes, costing nearly $1,000, 
was donated to the church by City Judge L. J. Conlan of New 
York City for the golden jubilee, in memory of his boyhood days 
in Camden. Alfred Costello, the son of Hon. P. H. Costello, the 
former distinguished townsman of the village and influential 
benefactor who conducted, in partnership with his cousin, the 
celebrated tanneries of Central New York, donated in memory of 
his deceased father a beautiful pipe organ, costing $1,200. The 
organ was in place, and the chimes before the altar rail for their 
solemn baptism on this golden jubilee day of the dedication of 
the first Catholic Church in Camden by Father FitzPatrick, Sep- 
tember 7, 1852. 

The solemn celebration of this jubilee took place on Sunday, 



CAMDEN. 295 

September 7, 1902, and ^vas attended by a multitude of people 
from far and near. A select musical program was rendered by 
the choir under the direction of the organist, Mrs. D. L. Mann, 
assisted by her daughter, Mrs. H. J. Kittrick. It was the twenty- 
third year of Mrs. Mann 's service as organist, and the new organ 
seemed a fitting climax for these years of unfailing fidelity. 

A solemn high Mass was celebrated in the presence of the Rt. 
Eev. Mgr. J. J. Kennedy, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Syra- 
cuse, who, in the unavoidable absence of the Rt. Rev. Bishop, had 
blessed the bells before the Mass, and one of the sponsors of which 
was Judge Conlan, himself present from New York. Rev. J. H. 
McGraw, the former pastor of the parish, was celebrant; Father 
Hainault of Taberg, deacon ; Father Greene of Florence, sub- 
deacon, and Father Tiernan, master of ceremonies. Father Tier- 
nan preached the sermon. 

Solemn Vespers were celebrated in the evening and Father Mc- 
Graw of Clayville preached the sermon. In the meantime the 
people of Williamstown, urged by the spirit of these donations to 
St. John's Church, raised the sum of $350, and a set of chimes 
was purchased for St. Patrick's Church, which were baptized by 
Bishop Ludden on Sunday, November 5, of the same year. An 
historical account of the Williamstown mission may be found in 
the chapter devoted to the churches of Oswego County, {vide p. 
208.) 



DURHAMVILLE 

THE records of this church and congregation date from 1861, 
although the church was built in 1859-1860. For a period 
of six years previously Mass was said in different private 
houses, the Franciscan Fathers of Utica attending. There was no 
ceremonial cornerstone laying, but the people, mostly farmers, 
aiding by contributions of materials, money and labor, built the 
little church, which was blessed some time in 1860 by Rev. Leo- 
pold Mozygemba, 0. M. C. The building cost about $1,800, but 
later on an addition, now forming the sanctuary, was added to 
it. In 1867 a two-story frame school-house was built under the 
direction of the Franciscan Fathers, the contract for about $2,800 
having been given to Joseph Roth. This school was conducted by 
lay teachers and at considerable expense to the congregation until 
the year 1890, when, by order of the Bishop, it was discontinued. 
The number of pupils averaged about twenty-five. 

In 1887 the care of the congregation was given in charge of 
secular clergy. These priests resided in the school-house until 
about 1894. Rev. Raymond Zanders, 0. F. M., was the first pas- 
tor. He came from Westphalia, Germany, and remained about a 
year, when he rejoined his monastery in Germany and about ten 
years ago died there a very edifying death. Rev. Leandro Schaf- 
fer was the next priest in charge, but he remained only a few 
months. Rev. George Pax was pastor of the congregation in 1888 
and 1889. Then the people were attended from St. Mary's (Ger- 
man) Church, Rome, until the Rev. J. Lerche came. His stay 
was brief, as the Rev. A. Bergmann became pastor in 1890. In 
1893 he left his charge for several months and during his absence 
the Rev. E. Stark administered the parish. Father Bergmann 
died in February, 1895. 

Rev. J. J. Heidegger was pastor pro tern until the present pas- 
tor, Rev. Bernard "W. Goossens, came in August of the same year. 
Father Bergmann had removed to St. Joseph's Church, Oneida, 
in 1894, and from that time until 1909 Oneida was the headquar- 
ters, Durhamville being attended as a mission. 



DURHAMVILLE. 297 

In 1899 St. Francis' Church was raised and in 1901 the in- 
terior of the church was remodeled and stained glass windows 
were placed. In 1903 the outside was repaired and painted and 
the old school building was transformed into a dwelling house. 

In the fall of 1908 Father Goossens left Oneida to spend sev- 
eral months abroad and during his absence the Rev. Michael 
Stein es, D. D., assistant priest at St. Joseph's (German) Church, 
Syracuse, was in charge of the parish, with residence in Oneida. 

When Father Goossens returned he took up his residence in 
Durhamville and St. Francis' became a parish church. Dr. 
Steines was then appointed pastor of St. Joseph 's. 

Father Goossens was born in Westfalen, Germany, March 2, 
1858. He was ordained in Montreal, Canada, December 22, 1888, 
and his first appointment was to St. Andrew's Cathedral, Grand 
Rapids, Mich., where he remained until September, 1889, when 
he was assigned to Maple Valley, Mich., remaining there until 
October, 1892. Retired, because of ill health, until July, 1894, 
he was then incardinated into the Diocese of Syracuse and ap- 
pointed acting pastor of St. Mary's, Utica. November 1 of the 
same year he became chaplain of St. Vincent's Industrial School, 
Utica, and served in that capacity until August 15, 1895, when he 
was given charge of Oneida and Durhamville. 

St. Francis' congregation is composed almost entirely of Ger- 
mans, When the glass industry was at its height in the village, 
nearly 100 families attended the church. To-day the congrega- 
tion numbers sixty families, German and Irish, and nearly all 
are devoted to agricultural pursuits. 



CLAYVILLE 

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH, Clayville, is located in the beau- 
tiful and far-famed Sauquoit Valley. The parish em- 
braces an extensive area, thickly settled, thriving, progres- 
sive, blessed and beautified by many homes that are models of 
rural peace and hapiness. It comprises the villages of Bridge- 
water, Cassville, Clayville, Sauquoit, Chadwicks, Willowvale and 
their adjacent farms, a veritable string of little towns nestling 
among the tall hills that rise above them, rugged and beautiful, 
like stepping stones to God. 

Catholicity here, as elsewhere in America, began its life in 
primitive simplicity, in humbleness of surroundings, in poverty 
of possessions and in ways that demanded great sacrifices and un- 
faltering perseverance on the part of the few scattered children 
of the Church who gathered in the name of God to keep and 
spread the light of the true faith. Mass was first celebrated in 
the village of Clayville in the fall of 1849 in a private house 
owned by one Valentine Carney. Father Carahar of St. Pat- 
rick's Church, Utica, was the celebrant. About forty of the 
faithful were present, some of them walking many miles from 
distant hills and settlements. Some time after this a regular mis- 
sion was organized and Rev. William C. Coghlan attended it 
from St. John's Church, Utica, from November 21, 1850, until 
May 1, 1854, when he was removed to Clinton as resident pastor 
of that village. However, he continued in charge of the Clayville 
mission, ministering with priestly zeal and devotion to its few 
scattered adherents until his death on July 7, 1862. His suc- 
cessor, Rev. Edward Bayard, attended Clayville from July, 1862, 
to August, 1863. 

Rev. Peter 'Reilly succeeded Father Bayard August 10, 1863. 
The mission by this time had so grown that the congregation felt 
strong enough to undertake the erection of a permanent place of 
worship. Accordingly a large plat of ground was purchased in 
the heart of the village of Clayville, on the main street, and prep- 
arations were made for the building of the first Catholic Church 



CliAYVILLE. 299 

in the Sauquoit Valley. Michael McCabe and Michael Kelly were 
chosen trustees, donations and subscriptions were received, and 
the scattered congregation labored with a loyal earnestness for 
the realization of a long prayed for blessing. The edifice was 
begun in March, 1864, and completed some time in the following 
year. 

In November, 1867, Eev. Philip J. Smith, of Waterville, as- 
sumed charge of the Clayville mission and ministered regularly 
and faithfully to the wants of its people during the succeeding 
seven years. So well did the mission thrive temporally and spir- 
itually under his guidance that in 1874 the mission of Clayville 
was made an independent parish and Rev. Edward F. 'Connor 
was appointed the first resident pastor. 

Father O'Connor promptly became identified with the life and 
the growth of the village as well as of the parish. He was a 
genial, whole-souled, neighborly character. He knew everyone, 
had a kindly greeting and a pleasant word for everyone, and by 
his lovable qualities of mind and heart, by his devotion to his 
duties and by the charm of his priestly life he won his way into 
the lives and the loves of all classes of people in Clayville and its 
vicinity. From the very beginning he proved himself a faithful 
priest, a progressive manager. He remodeled the parish church, 
adding a tower, a steeple, a large vestry and a beautiful sanctu- 
ary. He improved the parish house, enlarging the exterior. He 
also built St. Joseph's Church in the then out-mission of West 
Winfield. Finally, after nearly seventeen years of unremitting 
service and apostolic zeal in the midst of the people who loved 
him and whom he loved so well, he died on September 30, 1890. 
The entire community, as well as numberless friends among the 
clergy and laity outside, mourned his departure as a personal 
loss, and made the deep grief of his parishioners their own. He 
was buried in St. Mary's Cemetery, Clayville, among his own 
people, in gratification of the wish that he might rest where he 
had labored within the shadow of the hills that frame the beauties 
of the Sauquoit Valley. 

Rev. John C. Higgins succeeded Father O'Connor in Novem- 
ber, 1890. He was a man of sterling piety, unfaltering principle, 
fearless and determined in his advocacy of truth and righteous 
living, He had a voice of rare beauty and was styled the ' ' Sweet 



300 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

tenor singer of the diocese. ' ' He labored with great zeal for the 
upbuilding and the betterment of the parish and had many plans 
under consideration for the improvement of the church property. 
But the shadow of death was upon him almost from the begin- 
ning. He died in May, 1894, mourned by his parishioners and a 
large circle of outside friends. 

The present pastor, Rev. John H. McGraw, succeeded Father 
Higgins on June 3, 1894, coming from the parish and out-mis- 
sions of Camden, where for seven years he had labored earnestly 
and successfully in the midst of a devoted people. Father Mc- 
Graw was born in Albany, March 4, 1858, made his classical 
course at Assumption College, Canada, Niagara University and 
St. Ignatius' College, Chicago. His theological studies were 
made in France, where he was ordained at Aix-en-Provence, June 
3, 1882. His first appointments were as assistant at St. John's, 
Albany, January 1, 1883-October, 1884; St. John's, Schenec- 
tady, October, 1884-March, 1886; St. Patrick's, Utica, March 18, 
1886-July, 1887. In the latter month he was sent temporarily to 
Florence and in August of the same year was made pastor of St. 
John's Church, Camden. Since his advent to the parish he has 
paid up a large old debt and expended several thousand dollars 
in beautifying and improving the church and in remodeling, re- 
furnishing and improving the parish house and surroundings, 
making the entire property one of the most beautiful and valu- 
able in the village and vicinity. All of the improvements have 
been paid for through the indefatigable labors of the pastor, 
aided by the support and the hearty co-operation of his people. 

About 105 families attend the Clayville church. Most of these 
are Irish, a few are German, and some are Italians. In spite of 
the financial reverses occasioned by the closing of some industries 
in the different villages and the consequent constant exodus of 
numbers of the Catholic people in search of employment else- 
where, the parish remains in a flourishing condition. The church 
has a seating capacity of over 500, is furnished liberally through- 
out, is artistically decorated and is perfect in all ecclesiastical 
appointments. The parish rectory near by is an ideal one, taste- 
fully furnished and fitted with all modem improvements. St. 
Mary's Cemetery, beautifully located on the outskirts of the vil- 



WILLOWVALE. 301 

lage and recently remodeled, is arranged and maintained in a 
manner in keeping with the rest of the parish belongings. 

The Rev. Thomas H. Quinn, of St. Mary's parish, Binghamton, 
who was ordained at Rochester in June, 1909, by Bishop Grimes, 
was appointed assistant at Clayville, July 26, 1909. 



WILLOWVALE 

Under Father McGraw's direction St. Anthony of Padua 
Church was built at Willowvale during the summer of 1908. The 
cornerstone was laid July 19 of that year by Bishop Ludden. It 
is a handsome structure of veneered pressed brick, has a seating 
capacity of 500 and cost $10,000 to build. Willowvale adjoins 
the village of Chadwicks and is situated between Clayville and 
New Hartford. The Catholic population of the place has been 
increased recent years through the building and operating of a 
number of knitting mills. 



ORISKANY FALLS 

THE first Mass was said in Oriskany Falls at Jeremiah 
O'Connell's residence in September, 1862, by Rev. Ed- 
ward Bayard, pastor of St. Mary's Church, Clinton. 
About twenty families were in attendance. The next Mass was 
said at James Dolan 's, the next at Bartholomew Roache 's and the 
next at the residence of Mr. Gillmore. 

Rev. Peter O'Reilly, successor to Father Bayard, took charge 
of the mission of Oriskany Falls in September, 1863, and said 
Mass nearly every three weeks in the Town Hall for a period of 
nine years. 

On August 30, 1870, under his skillful direction and manage- 
ment, a meeting of the Catholics of the village and vicinity was 
held in the Town Hall of Oriskany Falls, at which they by a ma- 
jority vote formed themselves into a religious corporation, and 
resolved that they should build a church. Through the united 
and earnest efforts of Father O'Reilly and the congregation, St. 
Joseph's Church was erected in 1873 and was incorporated the 
same year. Father O'Reilly said the first Mass in it and con- 
tinued to attend it for one year thereafter. 

Rev. T. W. Riley, pastor of St. Bernard's Church, Waterville, 
took charge of St. Joseph's Church, November 1, 1874, and at- 
tended it for four years, or until 1878. Rev. J. J. McDonald, 
next pastor of Waterville, attended St. Joseph's Church until 
August 15, 1883, when Bishop McNeirny, of Albany, appointed 
Rev. Simon J. Cannane as first resident pastor. 

As the mission had been attended by priests of other places 
there was no parochial residence. Father Cannane soon after 
taking charge purchased a house and built a bam. He has also 
made an addition to the church and many other improvements to 
the property. He has faithfully administered to the wants of his 
congregation, and besides has attended two out-missions — one at 
Vernon Center, the other at North Brookfield. Knoxboro, Munns- 
ville and Verona are attended as stations. There are now seventy 
families of the Irish race in St. Joseph's congregation. 



VERNON CENTER AND NORTH BROOKFIELD. 303 

Father Cannane has served as pastor continuously from Au- 
gust 15, 1883, to the present time. He was born in Vestal, 
Broome County, this diocese, on June 3, 1847. He was ordained 
priest June 22, 1873, his theological studies having been made at 
Alleghany Seminary, and his first appointment was as assistant 
at St. Patrick's, Albany, July 4, 1873-April 13, 1876. He was 
pastor of St. Mary's, Hunter, N. Y., from the latter date until 
his appointment to Oriskany Falls, twenty-six years ago. 



VERNON CENTER 

St. Agnes' Church, Vernon Center, was purchased and re- 
paired by Father Cannane and the first Mass was said in it by 
him, April 13, 1884. At that time about thirty-five families re- 
sided in the mission. For the past twenty years Mass has been 
said there nearly every three weeks. The church was free from 
debt before the first Mass was said in it. There are now twenty- 
three families in Vernon Center mission. 



NORTH BROOKFIELD 

In the mission of North Brookfield the first Mass was said by 
Rev. T. W. Riley. It was next attended by Rev. J. J. McDonald. 
Both were pastors of St. Bernard's Church, Waterville. 

In 1883 charge of the mission was given to Father Cannane. 
Mass was said by him for eleven years in the Town Hall. He 
built the new church, known as the Church of the Maternity of 
the Blessed Virgin, and it was dedicated by Bishop Ludden, Oc- 
tober 21, 1894, and is free from debt. At that time there were 
twenty-five families of Irish nationality in the mission. 



BOONVILLE 

UNTIL 1875 this parish had been a mission attended at differ- 
ent times from Constableville and Port Leyden. In that 
year a resident priest was appointed who immediately 
made plans for a church. 

The first Mass in the village of Boonville was said in the house 
of Mrs. Smith, in December, 1838. The weather was intensely 
cold and the snow very deep and those present came from miles 
around. It was the first time the Catholics assembled for wor- 
ship in the history of the village and the event caused a great 
deal of excitement and unrest among the Protestants. The cele- 
brant was Rev. William Beecham of Rome. There were few 
Catholic families living in this part of the state at that time, but 
the smallness in numbers was made up in strength of faith, love 
of their religion and perfect obedience to their pastor. The fol- 
lowing men and their families were present: John Hyland, 
Bernard Donnelly, Terence Conlon, Daniel Mulhern, Michael 
Mackin, Bernard McLaughlin, Owen Gillson, Thomas Gleason ; in 
all about forty or fifty adults and children. The Mass was served 
by Terence Conlon and James, a son of John Hyland. James 
Hyland is now and has been since the inception of the parish, an 
honored trustee. 

Father Beecham visited the people of Boonville monthly until 
the year 1841, when he was replaced by Rev. William Howard, 
who resided at Constableville, and who came monthly up to the 
year 1850. Succeeding him came Rev. James 'Sullivan and he 
remained with them till 1853. Following him came Father Shea- 
han, who remained but one year. Father Brady, succeeding, at- 
tended monthly for three years. Rev. Cornelius Fitzpatrick was 
next in charge and his term was the same as that of his prede- 
cessor. Father Howard, who left the parish in 1850, then re- 
turned and remained until some time in 1862, when he was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. Eugene Caroll, who attended the wants of the 
people until, finally, a resident pastor was appointed by Bishop 
McNeimy, in 1875, in the person of Rev, Thomas Harty. 



BOONVILLE. 305 

Father Harty came under the most discouraging circumstances. 
The people at that time, though thoroughly Catholic, were poor, 
and hesitated about assuming the responsibility of building and 
supporting a church. He soon won the trust and esteem of Cath- 
olic and Protestant alike, however, and in 1878 the cornerstone of 
the church was laid and the following year saw a beautiful struc- 
ture raised as an evidence of his remarkable zeal and persever- 
ance. No priest in these parts so thoroughly pleased, astonished 
and delighted the people of all classes as did Father Harty. His 
powers of eloquence won him great fame. He was much in de- 
mand at the different celebrations of the village and the people 
returned home after hearing him, astonished at his great gift; 
and, as his eloquence won their minds, so his beautiful charity 
won their hearts. Kind-hearted, brilliant and true, he is still 
piously remembered in the parish. Following him came Rev. 
John A. Hart, in the year 1883, and upon him fell the onus of 
finishing the work begun by Father Harty. The parochial house 
was already built, but was unfinished, the grounds and church 
were still in a crude condition, but with the active co-operation 
of the laity, this earnest priest soon had the affairs of the parish 
in excellent condition. He was of a genial disposition and liked 
very much by all classes of the community. 

Father Hart was succeeded in 1888 by Rev. Edward R. Pren- 
dergast. In the beginning of his administration the parish was 
small and was composed mainly of Irish members with a few 
Germans. The parish now has Irish and Germans in almost 
equal numbers — about ninety-five families in all — and the church 
is a model of beauty and art. Many improvements were made by 
Father Prendergast. These began with the building of a vestry, 
43x15 feet, at the rear of the church, and this permitted the re- 
moval of the small vestries which had heretofore been in the 
church proper. The sanctuary has been made larger by thirty 
feet and the altar rail extended in beautiful curves. Above the 
altars are three large paintings, the centerpiece being Ittenbach 's 
"Holy Family." Over the Blessed Virgin's altar is Hoffman's 
"Annunciation," and over St. Joseph's altar is Hoffman's 
"Flight to Egypt. " These three paintings were donated by Miss 
Mary F. Prendergast of Syracuse, in memory of her deceased 
relatives. The Stations of the Cross are from Fuerich and were 



306 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

donated by the following members of the congregation: James 
Hyland, Jeremiah Buckley, Philip McGuire, Jeremiah Leary, 
Mayor Foley of Olean, Mrs. Matthew Whelan, George Geisdapf, 
Sr., Louis Seiter, Patrick Buckley, Benedict Gantner, Mrs. Ed- 
ward Buckley and brothers, Miss Kate Stanton. The Papal coat 
of arms was given by Mrs. John "Walsh and the Episcopal arms 
by William Gleason. 

Father Hart, on his removal from St. Joseph's, became pastor 
of St. Paul's, Norwich, serving there until his death in 1907, 
when Father Prendergast again succeeded to his charge and the 
Rev. Henry Farley Curtin, who had been Father Hart's assist- 
ant, was made pastor of Boonville and assumed charge on Janu- 
ary 1, 1908. 

Father Curtin was born in Marcellus, this diocese, July 23, 
1866. He was ordained priest in the Cathedral of Rochester, 
March 10, 1900, and was immediately assigned to Norwich, where 
he remained until appointed to be pastor of St. Joseph 's. 

Betterments and repairs made to the church property during 
Father Curtin 's administration bring its valuation at $12,000. 
The parish numbers 765 souls. 



FORESTPORT 

This mission was first supplied by a priest from Constableville 
in the early days of the village, a short time before 1850. The 
burning of the Constableville church and records in 1883 renders 
it impossible to give any accurate details regarding the adminis- 
tration of ecclesiastical affairs previous to that time. Before a 
church was built Mass was said in the house of one Zurhammer 
and also in the house of a man named Salzman. According to 
the oldest inhabitant who can be found now, INIrs. ]\Iichael Dona- 
van, Rev. James 'Sullivan was in charge here in 1850, and she 
was married by him about that year. A church was built a short 
time before that about two miles from this village on the road 
leading to Hawkinsville at Irish Settlement, so-called from the 
fact that a number of Irish families settled in that vicinity and 
made homes for themselves in the wilderness. They constituted 
almost the entire congregation for several years. The families 
were: Hennessey, Carrigan, Buckley, Connors, Coughlin, ]Mc- 



FORESTPORT. 307 

Guire, O'Leary and Scanlon. The descendants of some are still 
there. Father 'Sullivan was remarkable for his kindly charity 
and great zeal for souls, visiting the sick in the wildest kind of 
weather and doing all he could to relieve them in sickness and 
distress. He was succeeded by Rev. Eugene Carroll, who lived at 
Port Leyden, and also attended Boonville and Hawkinsville in 
addition to the parochial charge. 

About 1875, Rev. Thomas Harty took charge, with Boonville 
as his home. The work of a priest here was much more difficult 
and trying than in the home parish. The people were scattered 
about for miles distant from the church. It was, as the name of 
the village indicates, a forest. Even in summer it was most dan- 
gerous to frequent the roads unless perfectly acquainted with 
them, and in winter the pioneer priests had to contend with fierce 
storms and almost impassable drifts. But the Catholicity of the 
people, as loyal as it is at present, could not compare with the 
strong faith and ardent charity of the first Catholics of this par- 
ish. They loved their priests and in turn v/ere attended most 
zealously in all their wants and cares. In the inception of the 
mission their numbers were quite large, there being immense tan- 
neries all over this section of the State, which were worked prin- 
cipally by Catholics. After the dismantling of these the people 
scattered and in 1890 what was once a flourishing industry be- 
came a part of history. The mission in consequence dwindled to 
very small proportions, though now in 1909 it has so increased 
as to number about three hundred souls. The people are mainly 
Irish, though there is quite a sprinkling of French and a few 
Poles. There is perfect agreement among them and all are atten- 
tive to their church. 

Father Hai-ty was succeeded in his labors by Rev. John A. Hart, 
under whose pastorate the first steps were taken to build a church 
in the village, the need of which had become apparent for some 
years, as the families who had setttled near the old church had 
nearly all removed to other localities. The center of population 
was going towards the village, as the roads were always open in 
that direction, while it was almost impossible to reach the church 
in winter. Confessions were always heard in the house of Philip 
McGuire, v/here a hospitable welcome accorded priest and lay- 
man. 



308 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

In 1882 the movement assumed definite proportions and money 
was raised by subscriptions, and St. Patrick 's Church, which now 
stands in the village an ornament of it and a pride to the Catho- 
lics, was soon after built. The edifice has been entirely renovated 
under Father Curtin's direction. It is valued at $3,000. 



HAWKINSVILLE 

Before the erection of St. John Chrysostom's Church in Haw- 
kinsville, the Catholics of the vicinity attended the church built 
in 1848 at Irish Settlement, a point on the road from this village 
to Forestport, and about two miles from the latter village. This 
mission was attended originally from Constableville and since 
1875 from Boonville. 



WHITESBORO 

THE village of Whitesboro has the proud distinction of being 
older than Utica, Rome, Syracuse or Rochester. The first 
attempt at settlement in or near it, was probably effected 
in the year 1785, but it is beyond question that in the following 
year two rude log huts reposed in tranquility beneath the shade 
of old Fort Schuyler, now the site of the city of Utica. The 
Catholics, who were scattered about this territory, in after years 
began to grow in number. Some attended divine service at St. 
John's, Utica, when that parish was established, and afterwards 
walked some six or seven miles to receive the benefits of religion 
at St. Patrick's of the same city. Many were falling away. 
Grave necessity, therefore, required that a mission should be 
opened for these neglected souls, and consequently the Rt. Rev. 
Francis McNeirny, Bishop of Albany, sent his Vicar-General, the 
Very Rev. P. A. Ludden, who afterwards became first Bishop of 
Syracuse, to establish it. On April 22, 1882, the first Mass was 
said in the old historic Town Hall by the Vicar-General. On 
January 1, 1883, Bishop McNeirny appointed the Rev. John F. 
MuUany pastor of the scattered flock. Father MuUany was as- 
signed to no easy task, for confirmed habits of neglect are not 
easily eradicated. People were found whose acts of religious 
worship might be counted by quarters of centuries, or, who, after 
much questioning, discovered that they were Catholics by bap- 
tism. 

In the year 1885, however, on October 21, the corner-stone of 
the present beautiful edifice was laid by Bishop McNeirny. The 
church was dedicated on October 12, 1886. Father MuUany was 
pastor until transferred to St. John the Baptist's Church, Syra- 
cuse, in June, 1887. He was succeeded by the Rev. John Grimes, 
now Rt. Rev. Coadjutor-Bishop of the diocese. In January, 1890, 
the Rev. Thomas W. Reilly became pastor, and remained as such 
until his untimely death through accident. He was succeeded by 
the present pastor, Rev. William H. Slaven, in September, 1896. 

In 1893, the rectory, which was one of the old landmarks, 
burned to the ground. The present beautiful rectory was erected 



310 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

by Father Reilly. It is of brick, two and one-half stories high, 
and is considered the handsomest residence in the now progres- 
sive Whitesboro. The church is of GTothic architecture. The lot 
on which it is erected is 160 x 140 feet, and was purchased from 
Eli Morst at a cost of $5,000, and, being situated on the village 
park, for health or convenience could not be better adapted as a 
site. In 1893, Father Reilly purchased ten acres for a cemetery. 
This now stands as a lasting monument to his taste and zeal, for 
it is considered the prettiest cemetery of its size in Oneida 
County. In 1904 a grateful people erected a beautiful granite 
monument to Father Reilly 's memory. It was dedicated on 
Decoration Day of the same year. The dedicatory sermon was 
preached by the Rev. W. H. Slaven. 

During these years the following assisted in the work of St. 
Paul's: The first assistant was the Rev. E. R. Prendergast, from 
June, 1884, to January 14, 1888, when he was appointed pastor 
of Boonville. He was succeeded by the Rev. George S. Mahon. 
The Rev. William H. Griffin, now pastor of New Hartford (which 
until 1896 v/as an out-mission of "Whitesboro), became assistant 
upon the promotion of Father Mahon to the classical village of 
Oxford. Father Griffin was assistant from May 9, 1889 to De- 
cember 24, 1890, when he was succeeded by the present pastor. 
Rev. W. H. Slaven. In succession the Revs. W. P. Quinn, Theo- 
dore Provost and Walter Doyle served as assistants in Whites- 
boro. Father Doyle is assistant at the present time. 

Father Slaven was born in Rochester on June 20, 1856. He 
was ordained priest at the Cathedral of Vincennes on July 12, 
1885, and his first appointment was to St. Martin's, Indiana, 
where he remained, 1885-1890. He was incardinated into the 
Diocese of Syracuse and assigned to St. John's Cathedral on Oc- 
tober 16, 1890. On December 24 of the same year he came to 
Whitesboro as assistant to relieve Father Griffin, who was ill. 
The appointment was made permanent on February 1, 1891. On 
April 16, 1893, he was named pastor of St. Patrick's, Chitten- 
ango, and served as such until September 1, 1896, when he re- 
turned to Whitesboro as pastor of St. Paul 's. 

Whitesboro has two missions, St. Leo's, Holland Patent, and 
St. Ann's, Hinckley, and besides these, the villages of Floyd, 



HOLLAND PATENT AND HINCKLEY. 311 

Stillville, Trenton Falls, New York Mills, Yorkville and Oriskany 
are included in the parish proper. 



HOLLAND PATENT 

One of the iirst cares of Rev. J. F. Mullany was to select a site 
for a church in Holland Patent. Considerable difficulty was ex- 
perienced, owing to the bigotry of the people, but finally, through 
the kindness of several broad-minded men, the present beautiful 
stone edifice on the village park was secured from the descend- 
ants of the old Unitarian congregation. Repairs and additions 
were made at a cost of $1,000. It was dedicated by Father Mul- 
lany on July 23, 1885, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. 
Thomas J. McCluskey, S. J., of New York. The first trustees 
were Martin Tiernan, father of Rev. J. S. Tiernan of Camden, 
and James McLoughlin. Stations had previously been held at 
Catholic homes in the different villages of the district — at 
Huber's, Stillville; O'Connor's, Steuben; McLoughlin 's and 
Tiernan 's, South Trenton. 



HINCKLEY 

In 1895 families began to grow in number in the small village 
then called Gang's Mills. From two or three families the num- 
ber became eighty, attracted there by the erection of a large pulp 
mill. This number is now greatly diminished. In 1896 the Rev. 
T. W. Reilly, then pastor of St. Paul's, recognized the necessity 
of a church at this place, which is now called Hinckley. The 
nearest church was at Holland Patent, ten miles distant. The 
people were of many nationalities, Irish, German, French, Ital- 
ians, Poles. These people now worship their God in a neat frame 
church, erected through the efforts of Father Reilly. 



NEW HARTFORD 

THE history of St. John the Evangelist's Church, New Hart- 
ford, until the year 1896, is naturally interwoven with the 
data and story of the formation of St. Paul's parish at 
Whitesboro, of which it was until then a part. 

When, in 1883, the Rev. John F. Mullany was appointed to or- 
ganize a new parish in Whitesboro, with the town of New Hart- 
ford and the Holland Patent district as out-missions, the Catholic 
population at New Hartford was small in numbers, about twenty 
families, and these had until then, at great inconvenience, at- 
tended the several Catholic churches at Utica, Clinton and Clay- 
ville. I\Iany had lapsed from the practices of religion and, on the 
occasion of the priest's arrival there, there were only a few fami- 
lies ready to begin with him the organization of a parish. Noth- 
ing daunted, however. Father Mullany announced in the daily 
papers that Mass would be celebrated on January 13, 1883. 

On the Sunday designated. Father Mullany celebrated Mass in 
St. Stephen's Hall for the first time in the village of New Hart- 
ford. The use of this hall was extended by the courtesy of the 
rector of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and the altar linens 
used on the temporary altar were furnished by the wife of St. 
Stephen's rector. About thirty people were present. The good 
work once started was continued, Mass being celebrated on Sun- 
days and holy days in a hall in the village. 

On Sunday, October 21, 1883, the corner-stone of St. John's 
Church was laid by Bishop McNeirny at 3 o'clock P. M., in the 
presence of a great concourse of people. The sermon was preached 
by Rev. John F. Lowery of Cohoes, N. Y. 

The property on which the church was erected was purchased 
of Silas Root of New Hartford, at a cost of $1,200. The entire 
church property cost $20,000. 

The church was dedicated on Sunday, May 31, 1885, by Bishop 
McNeirny, and the sermon was preached by Rev. James 'Reilly, 
now of Clinton. 

Owing to the arduous duties of his vast mission, Rev. Father 



NEW HARTFORD. 313 

Mullany requested an assistant priest, and, in June, 1884, Rev. 
Edward R. Prendergast, recently ordained, was assigned to assist 
at St. Paul's, Whitesboro, and New Hartford. 

In June, 1887, Father Mullany was appointed rector of St. 
John the Baptist's, Syracuse, and was succeeded by Rev. John 
Grimes, now Coadjutor-Bishop of Syracuse, who labored with 
great success until called by his Rt. Rev. Bishop to a larger field 
of labor on February 6, 1890. 

During Father Grimes' administration of affairs, he had as as- 
sistants Rev. E. R. Prendergast, who was appointed rector of 
Boonville on January 14, 1888 ; Rev. G. S. Mahon, appointed 
January 10, 1888, transferred to rectorate of Oxford, May 1, 
1889, and Rev. William H. Griffin, appointed May 9, 1889. 

Father Grimes was succeeded by the Rev. Thomas W. Reilly, 
who came from Syracuse on February 13, 1890. Father Reilly 
caused many improvements to be made in and about the church. 
One improvement to be noticed was the placing of handsome 
pews, replacing the ordinary benches with which the church had 
been furnished, and the erection of church sheds for the advan- 
tage of the country people. He was assisted by Father Griffin 
until December 24, 1890, who was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Sla- 
ven on December 24, 1890, who served until April 16, 1893. 

On Father Slaven 's appointment as rector at Chittenango, the 
Rt. Rev. Bishop appointed Rev. W. P. Quinn, who remained with 
Father Reilly until October, 1895, and, on his removal to St. Pat- 
rick's, Utica, the Rev. Theodore Provost came to Whitesboro par- 
ish on the 14th day of the month. 

In July, 1896, Father Reilly 's priestly career was terminated 
by his accidental death, and through his death came the forma- 
tion of St. John's Church as a parish church. On August 24, 
1896, the Rev. William H. Griffin, who had attended the mission 
as assistant priest, was appointed first resident pastor of New 
Hartford. 

From a small beginning, through the united efforts of priests 
and people, St. John's holds a position comparing favorably with 
other parishes of the diocese. Although the congregation is not 
large, at the present time numbering about 115 families, partly 
of German and partly of Irish extraction, yet it possesses a beau- 
tiful little church, lighted by electricity, and a commodious and 



314 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

substantial rectory, formerly the home of Vice-President James 
S. Sherman of Utica. 

The priests who have attended St. John 's, from its foundation, 
with one exception, have been of the Irish race. 

Father Griffin, who has been pastor of St. John's since it be- 
came a parish church, was bom in Boston, Mass., on May 17, 
1862. His studies for the priesthood were made at St. Joseph's 
Seminary, Troy, and he was ordained on May 26, 1888. By con- 
sent of Bishop Ludden he served as assistant priest at Watervliet, 
Albany Diocese, from June 17, 1888, till October 31 of the same 
year, when he was assigned to St. John the Baptist's Church, 
Syracuse, in a similar capacity. On May 9, 1889, he was ap- 
pointed assistant at Whitesboro and New Hartford, serving as 
such until December 24, 1890, when, because of ill health, he was 
given respite from the exacting duties of his position. On July 
1, 1891, with health quite restored, he was sent as assistant to St. 
Mary's, Oswego, whence, after five years, he was recalled to ad- 
minister the affairs of the new parish. 



NORTH BAY 

RETUENING from a visit to the household of faith at Black 
Creek (Cleveland), Rev. Walter Quarter of Utica offered, 
in the year 1835, at the residence of Major Daniel Mulhol- 
land, the first Mass celebrated at North Bay. Supported by his 
little flock. Father Quarter struggled courageously until the ad- 
vent of the Rev. William Beecham, who became pastor of the 
neighboring church at Rome, in 1838. Five years later, on a plat 
of ground donated by Major Mulholland, the present church was 
erected under the title of SS. Peter and Paul, in what was then 
the Diocese of New York, under the jurisdiction of Bishop Du- 
bois. 

The first Mass in this church was celebrated in 1843 by Father 
Beecham, who through three succeeding decades continued to ex- 
ercise care over this and neighboring missions. This sturdy 
pioneer priest was successively assisted by Fathers Callaghan, 
Fitzpatrick, Craven, Howard, Ludden, Sullivan, Walsh, Zurker, 
O 'Reilly and Birmingham. In 1873 Father Birmingham took up 
his residence at Black Creek (Cleveland), with North Bay as one 
of his charges. The subsequent history of the latter is conse- 
quently to be sought in the accounts of the Cleveland pastorates. 
{vide p. 199.) 



SYLVAN BEACH 

SURELY history repeats itself ! On the hallowed spot, where 
for the three decades, 1654-1684 — as early as 1642, if it be 
accepted true that the saintly Jogues visited these parts on 
his way to the Mohawks — the intrepid Jesuit Fathers adminis- 
tered to the spiritual needs of the Oneida Indians, grouped 
around the mouth of Fish Creek, there, on the identical spot, 
stands a monument of that same imperishable Faith ! 

About twenty years ago Rev. J. B. Greene, now pastor of Flor- 
ence, purchased a plat of land at Sylvan Beach for the purpose 
of building a church, but was forced to abandon the project. At 
the earnest request of Bishop Ludden another purchase was made 
in 1899 by the present pastor, the Rev. J. B. Mertens, of Cleve- 
land {vide p. 199), and in the same year, on September 11, the 
comer-stone was solemnly laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop. Rev. J. J. 
McGuinness preached the sermon of the day. On Sunday, July 
1, 1900, the new church, under the title of St. Mary's of the Lake, 
was duly dedicated by the Bishop, assisted by the clergy. The 
dedication sermon was delivered by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. J. S. M. 
Lynch, who compared the shore of Oneida Lake to that of the 
Lake of Tiberias. 

The congregation at Sylvan Beach is composed almost entirely 
of the sojourners at the nearby summer resort, for whose accom- 
modation the church was erected. 



Vienna, this county, is attended as a station of St. Patrick's 
Church, Oneida, Madison County. 



MADISON COUNTY 



CITY OF ONEIDA 

THE INDIAN VILLAGE OF ONNEIONT VISITED IN 1656 BY JESUIT 
MISSIONARIES FROM ONNONTAGE, BLESSED IN 1667 BY THE 
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MISSION OF ST. FRANCIS XAVIER 
—FIRST CHURCHES OF MODERN TIMES BUILT AT "IRISH 
RIDGE" IN 1832, AND AT ONEIDA IN 1843. 

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH 

OF early Catholic activity in Oneida County, the first record 
is to be found in those wonderful archives of missionary 
enterprise, the Jesuit Relations. From these accounts 
we gather that the Oneida tribe was one of the most turbulent 
and unruly among the Five Nations, and the pride of the people 
made the labors of the missionary particularly trying. In the 
year 1654 some approaches were made by the Oneidas to le Moyne, 
while he was on his first visit to the Iroquois country, but appar- 
ently more in his capacity as a representative of the French Gov- 
ernor than as a Catholic missionary. In 1655, during the visit of 
Fathers Chaumonot and Dablon to Onnontage, two deputies 
came from Onneiont, asking leave to be present at the great coun- 
cil, at which was decided the establishment of the mission of St. 
Jean Baptiste. In 1656 a further step in planting the Catholic 
religion in the country of the Oneidas was taken when the Jesuit 
missionaries formally adopted the tribe as their children, and 
welcomed the opportunity, which the obligation of visiting the 
tribe and making presents thus imposed, gave them of preaching 
the gospel. Fathers Chaumonot and Menart were the first to 
make such a visit, but though well received, remained only long 
enough to baptize two old men and several children. The elders 
of Onnontage, who accompanied them, fearing a surprise, has- 
tened the Fathers' departure. 

It was not until 1667 that a permanent mission was attempted. 
In July of that year, at the request of the Oneidas, at the time of 
the making of peace with Tracy, Father Bruyas was sent to On- 
neiont, and arrived there in September. He said his first Mass in 
the village on Michaelmas Day, and took that for a good omen. 



CITY OF ONEIDA. 319 

It was, indeed, a task worthy of the great prince of the Angelic 
army which lay before the intrepid Jesuit. Here was this proud, 
turbulent, wilful mass of paganism to be molded into the image 
of Christ, and stout must be the heart and strong the arm of him 
who would attempt the toil. The mission was dedicated to St. 
Francis Xavier, and in January, 1668, we find Father Bruyas 
writing an interesting report of his labors to his superior at Que- 
bec. 

The three great obstacles to the progress of the gospel were 
drunkenness, dreams, and impurity. It may be remarked in pass- 
ing that it was from the Dutch that the Indians obtained their 
supply of liquor, the French had absolutely forbidden its sale. 
In 1668, Father Garnier, the first Jesuit ordained in Canada, was 
sent to Oneida to assist Father Bruyas. 

Father Bruyas was succeeded in 1671 by Father Pierre Millet. 
The work done by these Fathers was wonderfully successful, and 
in 1672 other members of the society could report that the Oneida 
converts "from wolves had become lambs." The edifying lives 
of the confessors among them, and the heroic fortitude of their 
martyrs showed that the same power which supported the heroes 
of the first ages of the church was present in all its sweetness and 
vigor among these fierce savages who had been won to the obedi- 
ence of the Cross. 

In 1676 Father Millet writes of the great progress of the mis- 
sion, to which two causes had principally contributed. One was 
the conversion and solemn baptism of Soenrese, one of the chiefs, 
and the other the establishment of the Confraternity of the Holy 
Family. A few years later jealousies and political difficulties 
arose among the Iroquois and with the French, and as a result 
Father Millet, though adopted as a member of the tribe, was yet 
held a prisoner in their village. In 1684 he returned to Canada, 
and the mission of St. Francis Xavier disappeared. In 1696 
Frontenac crushed the Onondagas and the Oneidas and for more 
than a century the history of Catholicism in the Oneida country 
loses itself in the record of the struggles for supremacy between 
French, Dutch and English, the War of Independence, and the 
consequent political and social reorganization of the territory 
which had been the scene of the heroic labors of the wearers of 
the Black Kobe among the various tribes of the aboriginal race. 



320 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

In recent times the history of Catholicism in Oneida begins 
with the establishment of the little Irish colony at ' ' The Ridge ' ' 
or "Irish Ridge," near Oneida. This colony was formed by an 
Irish patriot named Thomas Ennis, about the beginning of the 
nineteenth century. The little church was framed and nearly 
completed about 1831, and the land now occupied by it and the 
cemetery was deeded in 1833, without price, to Bishop Hughes of 
Albany by John Hyland and Patrick Sullivan. The first mission- 
ary priest at the Ridge was Father "Walter J. Quarter, who was 
succeeded by Father William Beecham, and the mission has been 
since served without interruption by the priests of St. Patrick's, 
Oneida. 

The small Catholic community in Oneida used to worship prior 
to 1843 in a little log structure owned and occupied by Patrick 
Moran on Union street, now known as West Railroad street. It 
was here that Rev. William Beecham first offered the Holy Sac- 
rifice in Oneida. In the spring of 1843 it was decided to build a 
church, and a small wooden one was erected, capable of holding 
about thirty persons. The congregation prospered and in 1851 
another and larger church was beg-un, at the corner of Main and 
Walnut streets, which served the congregation until 1886. 

The mission at Oneida was served by Rev. William Beecham 
until 1851, when it was separated from the parish of Rome, where 
he had his headquarters. The new parish had as its first pastor 
Rev. Patrick Kenna. He may be regarded as the founder of St. 
Patrick's Church, but he was only spared for five years in his 
new sphere of labor. He died in 1856 at the early age of twenty- 
nine. His body was laid near the sanctuary of the church he had 
built, but was removed to the new Catholic cemetery in 1888. 

Father Kenna was succeeded by Rev. John McDermott, whose 
pastorate only lasted eighteen months, he, too, dying at the early 
age of thirty-five. For some time previous to his death he was 
under the care of Bishop McCloskey. 

The next pastor of St. Patrick's was the Rev. Dr. James 
O'Hara, who remained for two years, from 1857 till 1859. In 
the latter year he was transferred to St. Mary 's, Syracuse, and it 
is in connection with this church that the great efforts of his pas- 
toral career are connected. As orator and theologian he had few 



CITY OF ONEIDA. 321 

equals' and his labors at St. Patrick 's, Oneida, and the missions 
adjacent to it, were apostolic in their character. 

Rev. James Maurice Sheehan took charge of the parish in 1859 
and remained until 1862. His character was one of great strength 
and force hidden under a garb of extraordinary modesty and 
humility. 

In 1862 Rev. William F. Sheehan became pastor and after five 
years of devoted activity was succeeded by the Rev. William Fen- 
nelly, who for seventeen years ministered to the spiritual needs 
of the rapidly growing congregation of St. Patrick's. He was 
killed at the James street railway crossing in Oneida while re- 
turning from the bedside of a dying parishioner to whom he had 
administered the last rites of the Church. The widespread grief 
displayed when the news of this sad occurrence became known 
proved how great was the affection in which the aged priest was 
held, not only by his own flock, but by the inhabitants of the town 
and district. 

During an absence of Father Fennelly for three or four months 
in Ireland on a well-deserved vacation, the pastorate was filled by 
the Rev. James Luke Meagher, in 1885-6. 

In February, 1886, the present pastor, the Very Rev. James A. 
Kelley, V. F., came to the parish, and under his guidance the con- 
gregation has displayed more than ever the enthusiasm and earn- 
estness in the cause of religion, which was always its character- 
istic. The needs of his congregation imperatively demanded a 
new church, and on June 17, 1888, the corner-stone of the present 
beautiful building was laid by Bishop Ludden, the preacher on 
the occasion being the Rev. Martin J. Hughes, then of St. John 's, 
Oswego. 

The church was dedicated on Sunday, November 24, 1889, by 
the Rt. Rev. J. S. M. Lynch, D. D., the Vicar-General of the dio- 
cese. 

Dean Kelley was born in Waterloo, N. Y., on September 15, 
1850. His preliminary education was received in the schools of 
Syracuse, where, in St. John the Baptist parish he spent his 
youth. He was ordained priest on May 30, 1874, after complet- 
ing his courses in philosophy and theology at St. Joseph's Semi- 
nary, Troy. His first appointment was as pastor of Warrens- 
burg, N. Y. Entering upon his duties there on June 7, 1874, his 



322 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

first task was to establish missions and build churches for a par- 
ish whose length extended for more than a hundred miles through 
the Adirondack Wilderness. And before his service ended there, 
in October, 1881, he had built and paid for six churches located 
in different woods settlements in a territory which had known 
neither priest or religion until his advent. Transferred to Bald- 
winsville, in 1881, he enlarged and beautified St. Mary's Church 
and otherwise improved the property. In February, 1886, he 
was transferred to Oneida, where the task of building a new St. 
Patrick's awaited. 

The Rev. Thomas S. Flynn was appointed locum tenens from 
January 1, 1903, to March 15, 1903, during the pastor's absence 
on a vacation in Europe, and remained as assistant priest until 
September 30 of the same year, when he was appointed pastor at 
Chittenango. 

The Rev. James P. McPeak came to the parish as assistant 
priest on July 1, 1905, and remained until January, 1907, when 
he was transferred to the Cathedral parish in Syracuse. Father 
McPeak was succeeded by the Rev. John P. Shanahan, who went 
to St. Agnes' parish, Utica, in 1908, to succeed Rev. William F. 
Sheehan, Ph. D., who was transferred to St. Patrick's and is the 
assistant priest here at the present time. 

All indebtedness against the entire property of St. Patrick's 
congregation was wiped out on Christmas Day, 1906, when the 
church mortgage was burned. The actual cost of the church as 
it now stands was $75,446.33, of the rectory $10,745.24, and in- 
terest paid $13,401.86, making a total of $99,593.43. The original 
cost of the cemetery was $4,000, the cost of improvements $5,- 
103.63, and cost of borrowed money $2,115.93. This makes the 
total cost of church, rectory and cemetery amount to $110,812.99. 
These figures in themselves speak volumes for the faith, energy 
and enthusiasm of the priest and people of St. Patrick's. They 
form a fitting conclusion to this imperfect outline of the noble 
record of Catholic life and work in Oneida. Whether we look 
back to the old days of the Jesuit mission, or come to more mod- 
ern times, the same love and devotion manifest themselves spring- 
ing from the same unfailing source — the undying inspiration of 
the Catholic faith and life. 



ST. JOSEPH'S (German) 

THE German Catholics of Oneida, numbering about eighty 
families, some twenty years ago, worshipped partly at St. 
Patrick's Church and partly at St. Francis' (German) 
Church, Durhamville. St. Joseph's parish was organized by the 
Eev. A. Bergmann, pastor at Durhamville, and was attended as 
an out-mission of that place until 1894, when Father Bergmann 
took up his residence at Oneida. St. Joseph's then became the 
parish church, with St. Francis' attached as a mission. 

Father Bergmann celebrated his first Mass in Oneida on Easter 
Sunday, March 29, 1891, in the Elm street school-house. The 
construction of a church was started at once. The corner-stone 
of St. Joseph 's Church was blessed by Vicar-General Kennedy on 
Sunday, October 1, 1893, and on Sunday, October 14, 1894, the 
church was dedicated by Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D. After the 
death of Rev. A. Bergmann, in February, 1895, the Rev. Bernard 
W. Goossens became temporary rector of St. Joseph's, Oneida, 
and St. Francis', Durhamville. Father Goossens' appointment 
was made permanent on August 15 of the same year. 

In 1896 a Parochial School was organized with about eighty 
pupils in attendance. The building was a temporary structure 
built on land owned by the pastor, and at his expense. In 1898 
this school building was moved and an addition built on, after 
which Father Goossens deeded the property to the corporation 
for a consideration of $300. On account of lack of funds the 
Parochial School was suspended in 1901. It was resumed shortly 
afterward and now has seventy pupils, taught by two lay teachers. 

During 1908, the Rev. Michael Steines, D. D., was appointed 
locum tenens while the pastor was in Europe and on the latter 's 
return the parish was divided. Father Goossens going to Durham- 
ville to take charge of St. Francis' parish and Dr. Steines re- 
maining as pastor of St Joseph's. 

Dr. Steines was bom in Consdorf , Duchy of Luxemburg, Ger- 
many, on February 17, 1877. He was ordained on May 24, 1902, 
at Rome, Italy, after completing his theological studies at the 



324 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

American College, that city. He came at once to the Diocese of 
Syracuse and, on July 1, 1902, was appointed assistant priest at 
St. Joseph's (German) Church, Syracuse, where he remained 
until assigned to Oneida. He is a nephew of the Rev. John Reu- 
land, pastor of Holy Trinity (German) Church, Syracuse. 

Besides its church, the congregation owns a substantial school 
building, which is 40 x 60 feet in size, with an entertainment hall 
and meeting room on the second floor. On the first floor, besides 
two school rooms, a temporary pastor's residence has been pro- 
vided for. 



HAMILTON 

HAMILTON became a parish with a resident priest in July, 
1869, and from that date the records begin. Very Rev. A. 
P. Ludden, now of Little Falls, N. Y., was the first pastor 
and established the parish. There is no written account of who 
was the first priest to attend Hamilton, or where Mass was said, 
but from inquiry it appears that Father Hourigan of Bingham- 
ton was the! first priest who said Mass in this section ; there may 
have been others, but there is no record or account of it. 

Father Hourigan said Mass at Hamilton in 1848, in a small 
house occupied by a Cody family, who have since passed away. 
He came once or twice a year, but there is no account of the dates 
or persons present. The house was within a few hundred yards 
of the old Chenango Canal and it is still there. There is no rec- 
ord of how long Father Hourigan attended here. For miles 
around it was one vast forest, the geographical heart of New 
York State, known as ''the wilds of Madison County." There 
were several small villages in the neighborhood of Hamilton, and 
Catholics were few and far between ; the chief cause of their com- 
ing was the building of the Chenango Canal. They were for the 
most part illiterate, but had the Faith which the persecutions they 
experienced in Ireland rooted in them all the more deeply. They 
were objects of curiosity and dislike to the bigoted and ignorant 
Puritan descendants among whom their lot was cast. The priests 
who attended occasionally after Father Hourigan are remem- 
bered as Father Callan, Father MeCabe, Rev. Charles Brady of 
Norwich, and Rev. P. MeNulty of Norwich. The latter was the 
first to make it a regular out-mission, coming about once a month. 
Mass was then said in the old Town Hall on Madison street, where 
the residence of D. H. Foster is now located. 

It was a great source of gossip to the non-Catholics as well as 
curiosity to have the "Papist Mass" in their midst, and often- 
times the local Dominies poured forth the vials of their indigna- 
tion on the enormity of tolerating within their gates "the super- 
stitions and mummery of Rome. ' ' 



326 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

After Father McNulty, Rev. Anthony Ludden was sent by the 
Bishop of Albany, in June, 1869, to organize a regular parish in 
Hamilton. He was then assistant to Father Francis of Little 
Falls and had been such for a year or more. Father Ludden had 
a commanding presence, great oratorical ability and an overflow- 
ing abundance of Celtic enthusiasm and confidence. The Catho- 
lics rallied around him and enabled him to build the first church. 
Like many other Catholic churches in small villages, it was built 
on the outskirts, not from choice, but from necessity, for the 
bigotry was such that a Catholic church would not be tolerated in 
a prominent place. This site, an old swamp, corner of Wiley and 
Utica streets, had to be purchased through laymen. It appears 
from the records entered by Father Ludden in the parish book 
that on July 28, 1869, Lyman Rogers deeded to William McDon- 
nell and John Kelly one-half acre of land on the corner of Utica 
and Wiley streets, consideration, $600 ; and on December 24, 
1872, said Rogers deeded to John Kelly and William McDonnell 
a piece of land for $55, and on April 13, 1878, said Rogers 
deeded to Bishop McNeirny of Albany one-half acre of land for 
$450. The church was then established and it was not necessary 
to seek the intervention of laymen in securing land. 

It further appears on the records that on May 2, 1878, Sand- 
ford Gardiner deeded to Bishop McNeirny five acres of land for a 
cemetery in consideration of $1,000. Mr. Gardiner was violently 
censured by many pious and God-fearing heretics for his conces- 
sion to ' ' Catholic idolatry. ' ' 

For a short time after coming Father Ludden celebrated 
Mass in the Town Hall. A frame church was first erected, the 
builder being the late John J. Clark of Utica; but a few years 
later, one fine Sunday, June 7, 1874, a tornado about five hundred 
yards wide bore down the valley from the west and laid the poor 
little church of the "Immaculate Conception" flattened out in 
ruins. The congregation had only left ten or fifteen minutes be- 
fore its destruction. Mass was celebrated that day by Rev. Mar- 
tin J. Hughes, now of Binghamton. It was his first Mass. 

Father Ludden began at once the building of a new church, 
which in his own unique phraseology "neither the world, the 
flesh nor the devil could destroy," and the corner-stone was laid 
in 1875. The sermon on the occasion was given by Rev. James 



HAMILTON. 327 

'Reilly of Clinton. The church is built in the Gothic style ; the 
material is of bluestone, found in the locality of the church, and 
with gray limestone trimmings. Father Ludden collected funds 
through Central New York to build the church and it is estimated 
to have cost at least $20,000. The remnants of the first church 
were constructed into the present parochial house, which has been 
wonderfully improved since it was built, being now handsomely 
painted, comfortably furnished, heated by furnace, has city 
water and electric lights, all donated by well-wishers from out- 
side the parish. 

In September, 1880, Father Ludden was transferred to Little 
Falls by Bishop McNeirny and was succeeded by Rev. W. B. 
Hannett, of Amsterdam. Father Hannett was a man of tall, 
dignified appearance, of splendid intellect and wide knowledge, 
and he was much appreciated by the people. He built a two- 
story addition to the parochial house and erected the pretty little 
church at West Eaton, which ig now out of debt. In those days 
there were five or six mills in the locality of West Eaton, which 
gave employment to hundreds of people. Gradually they closed 
or were burned down, the distance from a railroad and the large 
towns forcing their abandonment. The people gradually moved 
away and only three Catholic families still keep their holdings in 
the little hamlet, hoping for better times. The large district 
which Father Hannett had to attend gradually impaired his 
health and he died on October 16, 1889. 

The present pastor, Eev. Joseph V. MacDonnell, was sent from 
St. John's, Oswego, on June 30, 1888, to assist Father Hannett 
during his long illness. Father MacDonnell was appointed pas- 
tor of Hamilton in January, 1890, and the out-mission of Sher- 
burne was then erected into a separate parish with a resident 
priest. Father Ward of Rome. Thus deprived of its strongest 
arm, the attenuated parish of Hamilton began its new life in very 
discouraging circumstances. There was a floating debt of $2,000, 
a mortgage debt of $6,000, a threatened lawsuit by the heirs of 
Father Hannett for $9,000, and the Rogers' estate suing for 
$1,000 or more. The original search of title had not been thor- 
ough and all the heirs had not signed "quit claim" deeds; but 
the generous hearts of the parish renewed their efforts and under- 
took the work and slowly but surely won the battle. 



328 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

About this time many of the best Catholic families began to 
move away; the young- men, and women, too, sought the large 
towns and cities ; there was no industry in the village, and farm 
life and domestic service was repugnant to them. 

The village is an educational center, the seat of Colgate Uni- 
versity. There is a High School, a Teachers' Training School, an 
academy, a college and a Baptist Seminary. The Catholic youth 
of both sexes took full advantage of these opportunities and con- 
tinue to do so, and when they have received an education, they 
wing their flight to other spheres, and so the parish is deprived of 
their aid. 

Father MacDonnell was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ire- 
land, on July 18, 1856. His studies for the priesthood were made 
at famous Maynooth, where he was ordained on June 21, 1880. 
His first appointment was to Williamstown, Ireland, where he 
served as assistant priest from September, 1880, until the same 
month in 1884, when he was transferred to Parbry, Ireland, to 
remain until December, 1886. Incardinated into the Diocese of 
Syracuse, he was sent in February, 1887, as assistant priest to 
St. John 's Church, Oswego, remaining until June 30, 1888, when 
his service at Hamilton began. 

When the parish was first formed the total membership was 
about 780 ; the number now is 385. The total debt at present is 
down to $2,000. The whole property is valued by the assessors at 
$20,000, and consists of the church, house, barn, sheds, garden 
and cemetery. The church has been greatly improved recent 
years. Electric lights were installed and many donations were 
made for the furnishing of altar requisites and interior decora- 
tions. 



CAZENOVIA 

THE first Mass said near Cazenovia was celebrated by the 
Rev. Michael Heas, of Syracuse, at the home of James 
Sweeney, in Shelter Valley, about the year 1844. Occa- 
sionally Mass was said at the homes of Laurence Quinn, Michael 
Crawley and Matthew Baker. 

The present brick church edifice was erected in 1849-1850 by 
Father Heas. Mass was first said in that building in the month 
of May, 1850. The parish was attended by Revs. Michael Heas 
and John Hackett until the first resident pastor. Rev. James 
Cahill, was appointed in 1853. The out-missions then were Pom- 
pey Hill, Truxton and Chittenango. 

The other pastors have been the Rev. Michael Rooney, 1856- 
1858 ; the Rev. Bonaventure Carney, 1858-1862 ; the Rev. Charles 
Brady, 1862-1875; the Rev. Charles A. Reilly, 1875-1882; the 
Rev. John L. Reilly, 1882-1885 ; the Rev. Edward M. Brady, 1885 
(leaving in the fall of that year) ; the Rev. James L. Meagher, 
1885-1895 ; the Rev. Daniel Doody, 1895-1903. 

Father Doody was transferred to St. Francis de Sales ' Church, 
Utica, January 20, 1903, and the Rev. Albert J. Hayes, pastor at 
the present time, was appointed to St. James'. Father Hayes 
was born in Syracuse on February 12, 1868, and received his pre- 
liminary education in St. John the Evangelist's Parish School. 
His theological studies were made at the Grand Seminary, Mont- 
real, and he was ordained priest on December 19, 1891. His first 
appointment was to St. Lucy 's Church, Syracuse, where he served 
as assistant from January, 1892, till June 15, 1896, when he was 
appointed pastor at Pompey. He came to Cazenovia from the 
Pompey pastorate. 

The congregation is a prosperous one. It owns the church edi- 
fice, house, sheds and a cemetery. The house, assessed for $5,000, 
was built and paid for by the Rev. Daniel Doody. A "New 
Church Fund" amounts to over $10,000. There are no out-mis- 
sions. 



CHITTENANGO 

ST. PATRICK'S parish was formed in 1883 with the Rev. 
James Collins as its first pastor. Prior to that time it was 
attended by the priests from Cazenovia. Following Father 
Collins came the Rev. Richard H. Gahan, who acted as pastor 
until 1887, when he was succeeded by Rev. Martin Stanton. 

Father Stanton erected the present church, which replaces the 
original church, burned in the late 80 's. Father Stanton was 
succeeded in September, 1891, by Rev. James B. Walsh. Father 
Walsh remained as pastor until 1893, when he was succeeded by 
Rev. William H. Slaven, who was transferred to Whitesboro in 
1896. 

Father Slaven was succeeded by Rev. James Collins, who re- 
tired in February, 1902. The present incumbent, the Rev. 
Thomas S. Flynn, was appointed pastor on October 1, 1903. 

St. Agatha's Church, Canastota, was made an out-mission of 
St. Patrick's, Chittenango, in 1883. 

The two missions have a combined attendance of about one 
hundred families, divided equally between St. Patrick's and St. 
Agatha's. Both churches are in splendid condition, well equipped 
and free from all encumbrances. 

Attached to each parish is a fine cemetery, St. Agnes' in Chit- 
tenango, and St. Agatha's in Canastota, both free and clear. 

On July 1, 1906, the Rt. Rev. Bishop sanctioned the removal of 
the pastor's residence from Chittenango to Canastota. A fine 
new parochial residence has been purchased there. 

The church properties are conservatively valued at $25,000, 
upon all of which there is only $3,500 of indebtedness, incurred 
within the year for the purchase of the new rectory. 



CANASTOTA 

St. Agatha's congregation, Canastota, was attended from St. 
Patrick's Church, Oneida, until 1883, when it was attached to 



CANASTOTA. 331 

Chittenango parish as an out-mission. The church was built in 
the same year. It is complete in every detail and is free of debt. 

The Rev. Thomas S. Flynn, pastor of Chittenango and Canas- 
tota, took up his residence in this place in July, 1906, in a new 
parish house, purchased by the congregation. The village has a 
population of 3,500, or nearly a thousand more than Chittenango, 
and of these the members of fifty families are affiliated with St. 
Agatha's parish. 

Father Flynn was bom in Cohoes, N. Y., on December 14, 1872. 
His studies for the priesthood were made in the Grand Seminary, 
Montreal, and at the Catholic University, Washington, where he 
studied for two years after being ordained. He was ordained in 
St. James' Cathedral, Montreal, on May 27, 1899. During the 
summer of that year he was acting pastor of St. Mary's Church, 
Cortland, going thence to Pompey, where he served from Octo- 
ber, 1899, till January 1, 1900. From Pompey he went to the 
Catholic University, remaining until December 1, 1902, when he 
was recalled and appointed locum tenens at St. Patrick's, Oneida, 
January 1, 1902-March 5, 1903, during the absence of Dean 
Kelley, who was traveling in the Holy Land. Upon the latter 's 
return. Father Flynn was appointed his assistant, and continued 
as such until assigned to Chittenango and Canastota, on Septem- 
ber 30, 1903. 



CORTLAND COUNTY 



CITY OF CORTLAND 

FATHERS CALLAN, BRADY, McCABE, McDERMOTT AND McLOGH- 
LiN THE PIONEER PRIESTS WHO CARRIED THE GOSPEL TO 
THE SCATTERED SETTLEMENTS OF CORTLAND COUNTY- 
FIRST CHURCH BUILT IN THE YEAR 1855. 

ST. MARY'S CHURCH 

THE first priest to read Mass in this parish was Father Cal- 
lan, in the year 1852, in the old Homer Academy. This 
Mass was attended by about twenty-five Irish Catholics 
from the surrounding country. From the year 1852 to 1864 
Cortland was attended from Norwich every three weeks by the 
Eev. Fathers Callan, Brady, McCabe and McDermott. These 
old pioneers carried the gospel to this valley, enduring the hard- 
ships of a forty-mile ride over a trackless waste in winter and a 
wild and primitive country in summer. In the year 1855 the 
first church was erected here by Father Callan, on River street. 
It was a wooden structure, with a seating capacity of about two 
hundred people. No definite and detailed record of the church 
of this period is at hand, but it is known that it was not until 
1864, when Rev. Edward Coleman located in Cortland, that the 
church here had a resident pastor. Father Coleman was succeeded 
in the fall of 1867 by the Very Rev, Bartholomew F. McLoghlin. 
The mission then included Truxton, Solon, Marathon, Tully and 
the surrounding districts. "Father Mack," as he was familiarly 
called, was a man of large physique, kindly disposition, and was 
respected by the community at large. He rendered invaluable 
service during his pastorate of twenty-one years. 

The rapidly increasing Catholic population soon necessitated 
the building of a more spacious edifice, and the present church on 
North Main street was erected in 1868, and in 1888 it was greatly 
increased in size by the addition of a transept and the raising of 
a tower and spire. The present seating capacity is nine hun- 
dred. For seven years of Father McLoghlin 's pastorate his 
nephew, Rev. Thomas McLoghlin, was his assistant, and his mem- 



CITY OF CORTLAND. 335 

ory is still revered by the parishioners of St. Mary's. He is at 
present pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Angels, Whitehall, 
N. Y. Rev. John J. McLoghlin succeeded his cousin as assistant 
in October, 1884, and upon the death of Dean McLoghlin, No- 
vember 21, 1888, was appointed pastor by the Rt. Rev. P. A. Lud- 
den. Bishop of Syracuse, May 8, 1889. Under his administration 
altars were purchased and new Stations of the Cross canonically 
erected, a new organ placed in the church at a cost of $3,000, and 
a spacious and imposing parochial residence constructed, in 1891, 
of brick, trimmed with limestone. Besides these improvements 
forty-five acres were purchased for a new cemetery, in 1890. 
Thirty acres were artistically laid out and were consecrated by 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop, October 25, 1891. During his administra- 
tion, also, some valuable property was purchased for the erection 
of a new and commodious church and convent in the near future. 
The church is free from debt, and has a handsome sum in the 
treasury. The present Catholic population of the parish is about 
2,800 souls, divided into 500 families and mainly of Irish birth 
or descent. The value of the church property is estimated at 
$75,000. 

Father McLoghlin was transferred in July, 1907, to Bing- 
hamton, as pastor of St. Patrick's Church, and the Rev. Patrick 
Donohoe succeeded him. Father Donohoe was born in the parish 
of Kilenkare, County Cavan, Ireland, in March, 1864. His edu- 
cation was received in the schools of his native country and at 
St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, where he was ordained December 
22, 1888. He was assistant priest at St. Lucy's Church, Syra- 
cuse, from December 24, 1888, till January 18, 1892, when he be- 
came acting pastor of St. Mary's, Clinton, administering the 
parish during the illness of his uncle, the Rev. Peter O'Reilly, 
and for several months after his death. He was pastor of the 
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Fayetteville, July 3, 1892, 
till July 10, 1893, when he returned to Syracuse to serve as as- 
sistant priest at St. Patrick's Church till October, 1902. He was 
pastor of St. Bernard's, Waterville, from that time till July 25, 
1907, when he came to Cortland. 

In 1908 the parish had gro^^m to such an extent that the ap- 
pointment of an assistant was deemed advisable, and the Rev. 
Robert J. Bogan was sent from St. Patrick's, Utica. 



336 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Father Donohoe has perfected plans for the new St. Mary's 
Church and work on its construction will be commenced during 
the fall of 1909. The edifice is to be of G-othie architecture and 
will cost upwards of $100,000 to build and equip. 



HOMER 



While the first Mass in the present parish of Cortland was said 
in Homer Academy in 1852, it was not until the year 1909 that 
this progressive village had a church suitable to the needs of its 
seventy-five Catholic families. The contract for the building of 
St. Margaret's Church was let September 4, 1908, and while in 
process of construction the first Mass was said in it on January 
30, 1909, by the Rev. Patrick Donohoe, under whose direction it 
was erected. 

St. Margaret's has a seating capacity of 300 and cost $13,000 
to build. It will be dedicated on October 10, 1909. 



MARATHON 

THE Syracuse & Binghamton Railroad was begun in 1852, 
and completed in 1854. This enterprise opened up a new 
country and, naturally, villages sprang up in the valley 
through which it passed. Among these were Messengerville, 
Marathon, Killawog, Lisle, Whitney Point, Chenango Forks, 
which mostly make up the present parish of Marathon. 

The principal industry then was the manufacture of leather. 
The ruins of the tanneries of that time bring back memories of 
better days, for when these closed many of the Irish Catholic 
families which had taken active part in the upbuilding of the 
parish removed to settlements in Onondaga and Oneida counties, 
where the industry still was carried on. 

Few members of the congregation recall the first Mass which 
was said about the year 1853 in a little house still standing near 
the bridge which spanned the Tiogniogha at Marathon. By a 
strange coincidence the occupant of the house was of the same 
name as that of the celebrant. Father McCabe attended this 
place from Norwich for several years. He held station at Rig- 
ney's home on the west hill; at Jeremiah Griffin's, Patrick Dav- 
ern's and Jeremiah Davern's in the village. The faithful came 
from Freetown, Barryhollow and other adjoining hamlets. When 
Cortland was given a resident pastor. Father Coleman, and after 
him the venerable Dean McLoghlin attended to their spiritual 
welfare. 

The venerable Father Hourigan of Binghamton visited the 
confines of the present parish. He held stations at Whitney 
Point, Marathon and many other places, in the humble homes of 
his people. 

In a few years the congregation so increased that in 1869 the 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Conroy of Albany appointed the Rev. Michael 
P. Renehan pastor of Whitney Point, to which Marathon was 
added in 1870. 

When Father Renehan came to Marathon he held serivces in 
Peck's Hall, but after a time secured for $3,000 the Presbyterian 



338 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Academy property, consisting of the building and the grounds 
which extend back from Academy street to Grove street. A Mr. 
Chevalier owned the property. In the north end of this building 
the large study hall was converted into a chapel capable of seat- 
ing 300, where, until 1897, the Catholics of Marathon held their 
devotions. Up to the present the south end of this edifice has 
served as a pastoral residence. On September 18, 1878, Father 
Renehan was succeeded by his brother, Rev. James J. Renehan, 
the present pastor of Marcellus. 

Within a year Rev. William Dougherty became pastor. He 
opened a new cemetery at Whitney Point. Burial hitherto were 
in St. Patrick's Cemetery, Binghamton. During his long and 
fatal illness in 1882 he was assisted by the Rev. Patrick J. Brady. 

In ] 883 the Rev. James L. Meagher was sent to this charge. In 
the summer of 1885 Rev. Bernard A. Smith was appointed pas- 
tor. In 1889 Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden named the late lamented 
Rev. P. F. Herrick his successor. He died April 23, 1892, and 
was laid to rest beside the saintly Dougherty in the cemetery at 
Whitney Point. 

His successor, the Rev. Charles Vincent McGuire, has served 
the parish since May 25, 1892. Father McGuire was bom in 
Lietrim, County Lietrim, Ireland, on April 10, 1885. He was 
ordained priest on December 21, 1884, at New Orleans, La., and 
held a professorship at Jefferson College, St. James, La., from 
October 14 of that year until July 15, 1887. On relinquishing 
his college work he was appointed pastor of Algiers, La., and 
served as such until October 26, 1889. In Februarj^ 1890, he was 
incardinated into the Diocese of Syracuse and assigned to St. 
John's Cathedral, where he remained until March 18, when he 
was appointed assistant priest at St. Patrick's, Binghamton. Re- 
turning to the Cathedral, October 1, 1890, he went to New York 
City on the 15th and was attached to the Church of the Immacu- 
late Conception parish until March 19, 1892, when he retired on 
sick leave. The appointment to St. Stephen 's parish followed on 
his return to this diocese. 

Father McGuire 's first task was to provide a suitable church 
for his people. The old academy on the hill-top served poorly as 
a place of worship and was fast falling into decay. The opinion 
of the congregation was that a new church would be a risky ven- 



MARATHON. 339 

ture. Some were in favor of one and the majority was against it, 
but in the Providence of God and the good will of many the work 
was begun and the cornerstone laid October 11, 1896, by the Rt. 
Rev. P. A. Ludden. 

Then, as the building assumed proportion, the people without 
regard to religious prejudices poured in their contributions until 
it not only became possible to complete the building, but also to 
dedicate it without a dollar's indebtedness to the contractor. In- 
cidental and subsequent expenses were incurred for furnace, 
vestment case, carpets, steps, etc., and the grading of the exten- 
sive grounds to the amount of $1,600. 

The new building is near the street and is easily reached by a 
broad flight of cement steps. It is eighty feet in length and 
thirty-six feet in width, has a seating capacity of 400 and cost 
about $5,000. 



TRUXTON 

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH was erected in the year 1854 by 
Rev. James Cahill, who was then pastor of the neighbor- 
ing parish of Cazenovia. It was a wooden structure of 
small dimensions. Before the erection of the church, however, 
Mass was usually celebrated in the houses of the parishioners by 
priests from Syracuse, who came once every three or four weeks. 

The first ]\Iass was said in Truxton by the Rev. Michael Heas 
of St. Mary's Church, Syracuse, in the year 1848, at the house of 
Patrick MacDonald, one of the pioneer Catholics of this locality. 
The same year. Father Heas said the first Mass in Solon at the 
house of Michael Kelly. He attended both places until 1858, 
when Truxton began to be attended from Cazenovia by Father 
Cahill, who built the first church. Solon was then attached to 
the Oxford parish. From 1864 to 1868 Truxton and Solon, be- 
coming out-missions of Cortland, were attended by the Rev. 
Edward Coleman. 

In the year 1867 Rev. B. F. McLoghlin was appointed to the 
parish of Cortland and these out-missions. During his pastorate 
St. Patrick's Church of Truxton was burned in the year 1878 
and Mass was said for a time in the Methodist Church. Through 
the zealous and untiring efforts of Father McLoghlin a new and 
larger church was erected in 1880 and was attended by him until 
his death in 1888. 

In December, 1888, the Rev. Michael Joyce, now of Fayette- 
ville, was appointed the first resident pastor with Solon as an 
out-mission. During Father Joyce's administration a rectory 
was purchased, with five acres of land attached and great im- 
provements were made in the church and property. On the 
transfer of Father Joyce to Fayetteville in the year 1894, Rev. 
John J. McGuinness was appointed pastor and remained such 
until his death in October, 1900. He was succeeded by the Rev. 
T. J. Conway, who remained until March, 1907, when he was ap- 
pointed pastor of St. Mary's of the Lake, Skaneateles. 

The Rev. John J. Higgins, pastor at the present time, was born 



SOLON. 341 

in Syracuse. His studies for the priesthood were made at St. 
Joseph's Seminary, Troy, and he was ordained on May 19, 1894. 
His first appointment was to St. John's Cathedral, May 21- July 
5, 1894 ; thence he went as assistant priest to St. Paul 's, Norwich, 
where he remained until February 24, 1895, when he was trans- 
ferred to St. Mary's, Binghamton. On June 1, 1902, he was sent 
as assistant to the venerable Father Purcell of Skaneateles. 
Father Purcell died on January 17, 1907, and Father Higgins 
administered the parish until March of the same year, when he 
came to Truxton to succeed Father Conway, who had been ap- 
pointed pastor at Skaneateles. 



SOLON 



The first Mass in this village was read by the Rev. Michael 
Heas of Syracuse, in the year 1848, at the home of Michael Kelly, 
by whose aid and effort he built St. Bridget's Church during the 
following year. Father Heas attended Solon until 1858, when 
the Rev. Charles P. Brady of Oxford, Chenango County, took 
charge. In 1868 the mission was attached to Cortland parish 
and attended by the Very Rev. B. F. McLoghlin, V. F., until his 
death in 1888. In December of that year, St. Patrick's, Truxton, 
became a parish church with St. Bridget's as an out-mission and 
this arrangement has continued up to the present time. 



Preble is attended from Tully, Onondaga County. (Vide pp. 
154-5.) 



BROOME ICOUNTY 



BINGHAMTON 

FATHERS HURLEY, WAINWRIGHT, O'REILLY, DOYLE, SHERI- 
DAN, BISHOP BACON AND THE VENERABLE JAMES F. 
HOURIGAN THE PIONEER PRIESTS OF BROOME COUNTY— 
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, BUILT IN 1838, REPLACED BY ST. PAT- 
RICK'S IN 1873. 

ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH 

IN 1834 Father Hurley visited Binghamton to perform the mar- 
riage ceremony of the daughter of General Yf aterman with a 
Catholic gentleman. In 1835 the first Catholic family set- 
tled in Binghamton, and by permission of the Bishop of Philadel- 
phia they were occasionally visited by Father Wainwright, of 
Pottsville, who said Mass under a canopy erected on an open 
lawn. In the course of a few years several other Catholic fami- 
lies moved into the village and neighboring towns. It was then 
proposed, during the missionary labors of Father Wainwright, 
to secure a site and erect thereon a church. For this purpose 
General Waterman offered land on Oak street, and also tendered 
his services in raising money. The lot offered was not deemed 
satisfactory, and hence land on Leroy street was selected. A re- 
spectable fund having been raised, St. John's Church was com- 
pleted and dedicated in 1838, the ceremony being performed by 
Rt. Rev. Bishop Hughes, of New York. After this the mission was 
regularly supplied. Among the priests sent here were Rev. 
Father Bacon (afterward Bishop of Vermont), Rev. William 
Beecham and Rev. John O'Reilly. In 1843 Father Doyle was 
sent here, and was followed in one year by Rev. John Sheridan. 
The latter was sent to Owego in 1847, and was succeeded by Rev. 
James F. Hourigan, whose labors in this field covered a period of 
nearly half a century. 

When Father Hourigan came to Binghamton he found the 
church property heavily in debt, but with commendable energy 



CITY OF BINGHAMTON. 345 

he succeeded in paying both interest and principal, and also pur- 
chased for the parish a considerable tract of land adjoining the 
church. On this tract he built a parochial residence, St. James' 
School, St. Patrick's Church and St. Joseph's Convent. He also 
purchased land west of the village and laid out the present Catho- 
lic Cemetery. At length St. John's became too small for the 
rapidly growing congregation, therefore Father Hourigan took 
the first step that resulted in the erection of St. Patrick 's Church 
at a cost of $170,000. The edifice was dedicated September 23, 
1873. Father Plourigan died October 30, 1892. He was a man 
of fine physique, witty, eloquent and kind. His name is still held 
in the highest esteem by all classes of citizens. For nearly a 
score of years previous to that sad event, Eev. Nicholas J. Quinn 
had served as assistant pastor to his venerable uncle, but soon 
after the death of the latter, Father Quinn was appointed by 
Bishop Ludden to St. Patrick's Church, Utica, and Rev. J. J. 
McDonald was made pastor of St. Patrick 's of this city. Among 
the assistant priests during that period, besides the Rev. N. J. 
Quinn, may be mentioned Rev. William J. Burke of Syracuse, 
long since gone to his reward; Father Herrick of Marathon, de- 
ceased ; Father Pouneh of Deposit, deceased ; Father McGuire of 
Marathon ; Father Tiernan of Camden ; Father Byrne of Tully ; 
Father Foy of Lestershire, deceased ; Father Logan of Sherburne ; 
Father Bustin, now of Waterville, and the present assistant, the 
Rev. D. C. Flynn. 

Father McDonald was bom in Morristown, N. J., in the year 
1844, of Irish parents. His preliminary education was received 
in the schools of that city and of Exeter, N. H., whither his par- 
ents had moved to during his youth. He made his classical 
course at St. Mary's College, near Montreal, and his theology at 
St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, and was ordained priest on Trinity 
Sunday, 1873, by the late Bishop Conroy of Albany. As assist- 
ant priest he served in St. Peter's parish, Troy, under the Rev. 
Patrick Kearney, and in St. Mary's, Albany, under the distin- 
guished Father Clarence Walworth. He was pastor of St. Ber- 
nard's Church, Waterville, from 1878 until October 4, 1888, 
when he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Utica. 



346 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

He came to this parish on April 14, 1893. With a winning per- 
sonality and rich gifts of heart and mind which were revealed in 
a tender love for those committed to his care and a rare executive 
ability in the management of the temporal affairs of the parish, 
he was able to continue without interruption the splendid work 
of his venerable predecessor. Evidences of his priestly zeal are 
found in the many additions and improvements to the church 
property made during his pastorate — a handsome rectory of 
brick, modern heating and electric lighting systems, a nevv^ pipe 
organ and Stations of the Cross and the artistic interior decora- 
tion of the church; substantial additions to the cemetery, im- 
provements made in St. Mary's Home, of which he was president 
of the board of directors, and the purchase of a valuable plat of 
ground adjoining the Convent School and intended for school 
purposes. Besides making and paying for many of these addi- 
tions and improvements, the great church debt was substantially 
decreased during Father McDonald's pastorate. 

Under the head of Catholic schools a few words would not be 
amiss here. An Academic High School for young ladies was con- 
ducted by the Misses White at the northwest corner of Chenango 
and Lewis streets. It was afterward moved to the residence of 
Edward White, on Front street. The period of operation of this 
school was between 1830 and 1845. In 1847 Father Hourigan 
started a Parochial School in a story and a half frame building 
which stood adjoining St. John's Church on the west. The school 
was placed in charge of Miss Ellen White and Miss Dodge. The 
original school building was a frame structure and stood on the 
church lot between the present convent building and St. Pat- 
rick's Church, and was removed to make room for the latter. 
When St. John's Church was removed from its original site to 
Oak street the school was transferred to that building and has 
since been maintained there. The teachers at that time are be- 
lieved to have been Miss Ellen White, her sister, and Miss Dodge. 
Then came the much-esteemed Denis J. Dowden, followed by 
John Guilfoyle, another competent teacher, who in turn was fol- 
lowed by Mr. Lannon and Cornelius F. McCormick. Three hun- 
dred pupils are now enrolled in this school. St. Joseph's Con- 



CITY OF BINGHAMTON. 347 

vent building was erected in 1860. It was and still is under the 
charge of the Sisters of St. Joseph, with the good Mother M. Jo- 
seph as Superioress. 

St. Mary's Orphan Asylum was founded by Father Hourigan, 
March 6, 1878, and associated with him at the time were the fol- 
lowing gentlemen: William S. Smith, James Prendergast, John 
and D. C. McNara, George F. 'Neil, Timothy Good and Michael 
McMahon. Immediately on its purchase it was transferred to the 
care of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who are still its and the asy- 
lum 's caretakers. The home is situated off Chestnut street, in St. 
Patrick 's parish ; a park of eight acres surround it, always kept 
trim. Under the management of Mother Bernard no effort has 
been spared to render it in reality, as it is in name, a home for 
these homeless children. 

Father McDonald laid down the burden of life and passed to 
his reward July 3, 1907. The Eev. John J. McLoghlin, M. R., 
was appointed by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, July 15, 1907, to 
assume the pastorate of St. Patrick's and to continue the good 
work so auspiciously begun and so ably carried out by the de- 
ceased pastors and their faithful assistants. 

Father McLoghlin was born in Ireland, August 27, 1856. He 
was ordained in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 
Albany, N. Y., December 27, 1881. He was appointed assistant 
priest at St. Mary's, Oswego, in May, 1882, and remained there 
until October, 1884, when he was sent to assist his venerable uncle, 
Very Rev. Bartholomew F. McLoghlin, pastor of St. Mary's, 
Cortland. Dean McLoghlin died November 21, 1888, and Rev. 
John J. McLoghlin was appointed pastor of St. Mary's, May 8, 
1889, and continued as such until his appointment to be pastor 
of St. Patrick's. 

Within fifteen months after taking charge Father McLoghlin 
had discharged the last dollar of the church indebtedness, and on 
October 13, 1908, St. Patrick's was designated by the Bishop as 
one of the few parishes in the diocese whose pastor would thence- 
forth be appointed an irremovable rector. This high honor was 
then bestowed upon the present incumbent. 

During the first part of Father Hourigan 's pastorate, and dur- 
ing the terms of his predecessors, the Catholics of nearly all the 



348 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

adjacent villages, and those of the present city of Cortland, were 
attended by the priests of St. Patrick's. The parish has no out- 
missions now, but Hawleytown and Irish Settlement are attended 
as stations. 

Though five flourishing parishes have been cut away from St. 
Patrick's, yet with her splendid property freed of debt, she 
holds the proud distinction of being the grand old Mother 
Church, the pride of Binghamton, rearing her majestic form 
near the spot where the Chenango and Susquehanna Rivers meet 
and glide on to the sea. 



ST. MARY'S CHURCH 

ST. MARY'S parish was founded on September 15, 1887, by 
the Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, five months after his con- 
secration as Bishop of Syracuse. It comprised the eastern 
portion of St. Patrick's parish, for more than forty years admin- 
istered by the revered and late lamented Father Hourigan. Rev. 
John J. Brennan of St. Mary's Church, Florence, was appointed 
the first pastor of the new parish, and said his first Mass for the 
people on Sunday, October 2, 1887, in a large hall belonging to 
the Messrs. Sullivan & Clark, contractors, at No. 77-79 State 
street. Occasionally this hall was used by various organizations 
and for different purposes. Almost immediately it proved to be 
too small for the congregation. Crowds were unable to enter, the 
floor was unsafe, and in the event of an accident, and possibly a 
panic, because of a narrow staircase, the loss of life would be 
certain and appalling. On November 9, following, the Orient 
skating rink, situated on the north side of the city, was purchased 
from Messrs. Lyons & Shanley for the sum of $5,500. This was 
large enough to accommodate 600 to 800 people and seemed well 
adapted for divine worship. It was occupied until the present 
church was completed in 1904. Still many persons objected to 
the "rink," because of the bare simplicity of the structure, the 
odious memory attached to it, the distance, the danger in crossing 
the railroad tracks, and the delay often caused, especially in cold 
weather, by the freight trains standing over the crossings. For 
these reasons and others, many of the families continued their at- 
tendance and membership in St. Patrick's, and refused, in spite 
of any influence brought to bear on them, to attend divine wor- 
ship north of the railroads, in the ' ' old rink church. ' ' 

The boundaries at this time extended west to Chenango, to 
Carroll, to Mill streets ; and north, east and south to and beyond 
the city limits. For nearly seven years Father Brennan re- 
mained the faithful and efficient pastor of this parish, until de- 
clining health forced him to other fields, where his duties were of 
a less arduous nature. A man of fine presence, a profound 
scholar, a brilliant orator, his memory, to this day, is preserved 



350 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

fresh and sweet by his former parishioners. During his admin- 
istration he improved tastefully and paid for the "rink," and 
purchased for a new church two lots at the corner of Court and 
Fayette streets, at an expense of $16,500. Rev. William F. 
Dwyer, now pastor of St. John's, Oswego, was his assistant, and 
loyally helped in the administration of the parish during these 
years. 

The present incumbent, Rev. Martin J. Hughes, transferred 
from St. John's Church, Oswego, succeeded Father Brennan and 
took charge of St. Mary's parish August 4, 1892. Through the 
kind and gracious consideration of the Bishop, the boundary line 
was extended west to Washington street, which still marks the 
division of the two old parishes. A building committee was ap- 
pointed and a subscription list opened to pay $14,000, balance 
due on the lots at the corner of Court and Fayette streets, and 
otherwise to create a building fund towards the erection of the 
new church. The plans were drawn by T. I. Lacy & Sons, after 
the model of a church in New York City. The foundation walls 
were built in the fall of that year. On Sunday, June 4, 1893, the 
corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Patrick A. Ludden, while 
the Very Rev. James A. Kelley, V. F., a classmate of the pastor, 
preached a scholarly and eloquent sermon in the hearing of 
10,000 people. All the Catholic societies of the city turned out 
to do honor to the occasion. Without cessation or intermission 
the work went on to completion, although this period shall for- 
ever be remembered by the idleness, poverty and destitution of 
the people of the whole country. 

On Sunday, July 8, 1894, Bishop Ludden came from Syracuse 
and assisted by many priests, solemnly dedicated to God the com- 
pleted structure. The late Rt. Rev. J. J. Kennedy, V. G., sang 
the Mass on the occasion, Rt. Rev. Mgr. J. S. M. Lynch preached 
in the morning and Vicar-General Kennedy in the evening, and 
thus ended the first day 's services in St. Mary 's Church. 

This building cost about $100,000, and but a few who were 
present at the dedication that morning had any conception that, 
while it was dedicated to the glory and service of God, creditors 
held claims against it to the extent of $87,000. 

The architecture of the church is pure Romanesque. It is 150 
feet long by 100 feet wide and capable of accommodating 1,200 



CITY OF BINGHAMTON. 351 

people. Two transept windows give a superabundance of light to 
the sanctuary, in which a large copy of Titian's Assumption 
forms a beautiful background to the altar. The altar itself is of 
white Carrara marble of rich design and carving, and well re- 
lieved with green columns of Mexican onyx. A three manual 
organ, with an echo of fifteen stops, hidden behind the altar, is 
the work of Frank Beman of Binghamton. The walls are en- 
riched with a fine set of Stations of the Cross, the gift of pious 
people of the parish, in memory of deceased friends. John W. 
Kennedy presented a large ivory crucifix of rare value, taken by 
a soldier from one of the churches of the Philippines, and this 
now stands as a treasure and an ornament over the tabernacle. 

The generosity and spirit of self-sacrifice on the part of the 
people are shown in many other ways throughout the whole 
church. Underneath is a large basement hall, well lighted and 
ventilated, and capable of accommodating about 1,500 people, 
and which serves well for a Sunday School and for any other 
purposes the congregation may desire. 

About ten years after the dedication, the entire debt, funded 
and floating, was lifted from the church and the mortgage of 
$40,000 publicly burned on Sunday, February 5, 1905. This 
state of affairs was produced by the people, all working in har- 
mony, and making themselves many and great sacrifices. And to 
their eternal benediction it should be said that James Steel and 
wife gave for the honor and glory of God their entire estate of 
$2,300 ; that Miss Mary Maloney gave for the new altar $400, the 
savings of many hard days' toil, and that the $300 from the 
estate of Mr. Cruse and wife would have been as freely and 
cheerfully given had in run up and increased to millions. 

The growth of the Catholic population of the city was slow and 
steady, until, only a few years after the dedication, St. Mary's 
could number about 600 families belonging to the parish. Then 
the northern part of the city was cut off for the better accommo- 
dation of the Catholics there, and this to-day forms the parish of 
St. Paul's. The boundary lines north and south are marked by 
the railroad tracks. 

Besides building the church and paying for it, a pastoral resi- 
dence on Court street was bought and paid for. But this house 
proving too small and not in keeping with the church and sur- 



352 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

roundings, the people insisted on building a residence, large and 
commodious, and one that would be an ornament and credit to 
the street and parish. The plans were drawn and the old house 
moved back from its foundations. Then the parishioners thought 
the ground too small for the new building, and rather than de- 
tract from the appearance of the church, urged the purchase of a 
small frame building on the west side of the church. Twelve 
thousand dollars was offered and refused for this building. An 
opportunity was then presented of purchasing for less than 
$5,000 the large frame structure inunediately behind the church 
on Fayette street. This, remodeled and improved, now serves 
well for a pastoral residence, being spacious, well aired and well 
lighted. The whole parish property, at the present time, is esti- 
m,ated in value at $130,000. 

During all these years. Father Hughes has been well served in 
the care of the parish by his assistants, Rev. Joseph Lechner for 
the first three years, Rev. John J. Higgins for the next seven and 
Rev. William J. Glynn, D. D., up to the present time. 

Father Hughes, to whose energy and zeal the parish owes much 
of its success, was ordained on May 30, 1874, upon the completion 
of his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. His 
first appointment was as assistant priest at St. Peter's, Troy, 
where he served for four years. He was pastor at Cooperstown, 
N. Y., the next seven years, going thence to OsAvego, where he 
held the pastorate of St. John's Church from March 18, 1885, 
until August 4, 1892. 

In June, 1907, the south side of the city was cut off to form the 
new parish of St. John the Evangelist, so that the present boun- 
daries are the Susquehanna River, the railroad tracks and Wash- 
ington street, making a perfect triangle of St. Mary's parish. 
The last census of the Catholics of this parish taken up by Dr. 
Glynn and ordered by ecclesiastical authority, gives 1,159 adults 
and 290 children, a total of 1,449 souls, or about 300 families. 

Few parishes can be said to have been more successful than 
this. From the beginning, God blessed the people in especial 
ways with work, with health, with grace and with peace, and they 
have responded nobly to the will of the pastor, under whose 
direction they have builded their temple to the honor and glory 
of the Triune God. 



ST. PAUL'S 

ST. PATRICK'S was the only parish in Binghamton until 
1887. In the year 1887, the Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden, D. D., 
Bishop of Syracuse, created a new parish called St. 
Mary's, and appointed the Rev. John J. Brennan its first pastor. 
In the year 1891 the Rev. John J. Brennan resigned and the Rev. 
Martin J. Hughes became his successor. Immediately after the 
resignation of the late Father Brennan the Rt. Rev. Bishop 
divided St. Mary's into two parishes, all south of the railroads to 
be one parish and all north of the railroads to constitute another, 
with the instruction that all the property held in the title of St. 
Mary's be equally divided. St. Paul's Church had a real exist- 
ence, therefore, in the year 1891, but did not receive title or pas- 
tor until the year 1896. June 16, 1896, the Rt. Rev. Bishop sent 
the Rev. John V. Simmons to Binghamton to be the first pastor 
of the parish created on the north side. This parish received the 
title of St. Paul 's Church, after St. Paul, the great Apostle of the 
Gentiles. It was incorporated in Syracuse on November 30, 
1896. Incorporation papers were filed in the County Clerk's 
office of Broome County on December 2, 1896, and Mass was said 
in the rink building, No. 279 Chenango street, from June 16, 
1896, until the completion of the church. In April, 1900, the 
church purchased the house and lot at No. 284 Chenango street 
for the purpose of a building lot for a new church building. Ten 
thousand dollars was paid for this property. The lot has 100 feet 
frontage and is about 175 feet deep. 

In the year 1903 the church bought the lot at No. 19 Double- 
day street. It is 50 feet front by about 190 in depth. This lot 
runs to the line and along the same of the Chenango street lot, 
giving to the latter a depth of 50 extra feet. The church paid 
$3,000 for the Doubleday street property. 

In the year 1896, a few days after the pastor had arrived in 
Binghamton, he rented a cottage at No. 25 Way street until May, 
1900, when he moved into the house at No. 284 Chenango street. 



354 DIOCESE OF SYKACUSE. 

During the summer of 1903 this house was moved to No. 19 
Doubleday street, where it is used as the parochial residence. 

On June 16, 1904, a contract for the new church building was 
let to A. E. Badgeley, a contractor, for $40,012. This did not 
include the heating, ventilating, seating, lighting, frescoing, al- 
tars, organ, Stations of the Cross, piping, etc. The whole was 
completed at a cost of about $75,000. 

When the contract was let for the new church building the par- 
ish was out of debt and had about $15,000 in the banks. The 
total population of the parish, including all baptized persons, is 
about 1,500 souls. 

The corner-stone of the new church was laid August 7, 1904, 
by Bishop Ludden, and on July 2, 1905, the handsome edifice was 
dedicated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop, the Rev. D. J. Bustin preach- 
ing on the latter occasion. 

The Binghamton State Hospital is in this parish, and has been 
attended by the pastor during the past eight years. 

The village and township of Port Dickinson are included in 
this parish. There are at present only two Catholic families in 
the village of Port Dickinson. St. Mary's Church, Kirkwood, is 
attended from St. Paul's as an out -mission. 

The Rt. Rev. Bishop on April 1, 1903, sent the Rev. William 
H. Purcell as assistant, and he is still with the parish. 

Father Simmons was born in Exeter, N. Y., March 21, 1858, 
and was ordained priest at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, Decem- 
ber 18, 1886. As assistant priest he served at St. Mary's of the 
Lake, Skaneateles, December 21, 1886-December 7, 1887; St. 
John's. Utica, December 7, 1887-January 19, 1888. He was ap- 
pointed pastor of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, 
Pompey, January 19, 1888, and continued in charge there until 
his appointment as first pastor of St. Paul 's. 



KIRKWOOD 

After the erection of the Diocese of Syracuse, Kirlrvvood was 
attached to the Deposit parish and was attended from there until 
after the formation of St. Paul's parish. St. Mary's Church was 
built in 1888 under the direction of the late Rev. William M. 
Pounch and at a cost of $8,000. 



CHURCH OF SS. CYRIL AND METHOD 

(SLOVAK) 

THE Slovaks are a branch of the Slavonian family, which is 
of Indo-arian origin. In the ninth century the illustrious 
brothers Cyril and Method converted this people from 
paganism. Under the patronage of these saints the first Slovak 
church in the Diocese of Syracuse has made rapid progress. 

In 1885 three Slovak families had taken up their residence in 
Binghamton. In fifteen years this little colony had swelled to 
seventy families, with whom, moreover, many of their country- 
men and countrywomen had found a new home. Meanwhile they 
had received hearty welcome at St. Patrick's Church. 

In the year 1900 the members of this growing colony, care- 
fully computing their numerical strength, determined, with the 
Bishop 's permission, to undertake the task of providing a church 
of their own. Rev. Matthew Jankola, pastor of a Slovak congre- 
gation at Pittston, Pa., began the work of organization. The first 
resident pastor, Rev. Rupert Rehak, arrived on September 22, 
1903, and receiving faculties in the diocese on October 19, minis- 
tered regularly to the spiritual needs of the growing congregation 
until the following July, when he was recalled by his superiors to 
his native land. Before his departure the foundation of the new 
church had been laid. 

On July 19, 1904, the Rev. Joseph Pospech, pastor of St. 
Stephen's Church, Newark, N. J., succeeded Father Rehak. On 
August 21 of the same year in the presence of eleven priests and 
a large concourse of the laity the corner-stone of the new church 
was laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop, Patrick A. Ludden. By the end 
of the following January the church edifice had been completed, 
so that the first Mass in the Church of SS. Cyril and Method was 
celebrated on February 5, 1905, by the Rev. Joseph Pospech. 
The church was erected at a cost of $16,000, while $2,000 was ex- 
pended upon the furnishings. On May 30, 1905, the edifice was 
blessed by Bishop Ludden, who, on the first day of the following 
October, confirmed a class of 103. In the following year, 1906, 



356 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

there were 108 baptisms, 54 marriages and 40 funerals. At the 
end of the year 1907 the congregation numbered 1,100, of whom 
the male portion formed less than one-third. 

In May, 1906, a parochial residence was completed at a cost of 
more than $5,500. Two months later, under private enterprise, 
ground was broken for a hall to be devoted to parish purposes. 
The hall was completed and equipped at a cost approximating 
$6,000. On August 2, 1907, the congregation secured three build- 
ing lots adjoining the church property. 

On July 3, 1906, Rev. Bartholomew Ponikvar, a newly or- 
dained priest, who had previously been adopted and educated by 
the Rt. Rev. Bishop, was assigned to the Church of SS. Cyril and 
Method, where he remained until October 9 following, when, 
owing to the fact that he did not know the Slovak dialect, he was 
excardinated at the request of the Bishop of Cleveland, in whose 
diocese he is now engaged. 

On February 19, 1907, Father Pospech resigned his pastorate 
and was succeeded on March 27 by Rev. John Porubsky, for- 
merly pastor at Kingston, Pa. Father Porubsky is still in charge 
of this growing congregation. 



ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST^S 

THE parish of St. John the Evangelist was formed by the Rt. 
Rev. Bishop, June 1, 1907, who sent Rev. John F. Mc- 
Loghlin as the first pastor. It numbers over 1,700 souls 
and embraces within its limits the Catholics of the south side of 
the city. The first Mass was celebrated in the Kinney building 
on Vestal avenue, Sunday, June 9. The space was too small to 
afford sittings to all the people, and the trustees went before the 
School Board and made arrangements for the use of the New 
Street School. Here the congregation assembled for Mass until 
Sunday, September 8, when for the first time Mass was cele- 
brated in the present church. 

The ground for the new church was broken Monday, July 15, 
and the structure was finished October 4, 1907. The solemn dedi- 
cation of the church took place the following Sunday, October 6. 
The ceremony was performed by Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden, as- 
sisted by the clergymen of the city, and several of the diocese in 
the vicinity. Solemn high Mass, coram episcopo, on that day 
was celebrated by the Rev. J. J. McLoghlin of St. Patrick's 
Church, assisted by Rev. Nicholas J. Quinn as. deacon and Rev. 
John V. Simmons as sub-deacon. Rev. James P. IMcGraw, S. 
T. L., Chancellor of the diocese, was master of ceremonies. The 
preacher on this occasion was Rev. A. M. Dwyer of St. James' 
Church, Lestershire. 

Towards the close of the Mass, the Rt. Rev. Bishop Ludden ad- 
dressed the large congregation present, and congratulated the 
good people of St. John the Evangelist's Church on their beauti- 
ful church, and their faithful co-operation with their pastor. 

Father McLoghlin was born in the County Mayo, Ireland, from 
which place he came to this country with his parents the follow- 
ing year. His early life was spent in the city of Cohoes, N. Y., 
where he received his early education. Recognizing a call from 
God to the holy priesthood and following the example of his 
revered uncle, Bartholomew, and honored cousins, John and 
Thomas, he entered Niagara University about 1881. His college 



358 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

course being completed he entered St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, 
where he received the order of priesthood December 21, 1889. 
He was first sent to St. Peter's, Rome, where he served from 
January, 1890, until October 21, 1895, when he was appointed 
pastor of St. Leo's, Tully. In June, 1901, he was appointed 
pastor of St. Matthew's, East Syracuse, and remained in charge 
there until appointed to organize St. John's parish. 

The Rev. Charles N. Oley of Pompey, who was ordained in 
June, 1909, by Bishop Grimes, was assigned to St. John's on 
July 26. 



DEPOSIT 

PREVIOUS to the separation of the Diocese of Syracuse from 
Albany, St. Joseph's parish comprised the villages of De- 
posit, Hancock, Delhi, Walton, French Woods and others. 
Now the Albany Diocese line comes to the east side of the church, 
and the parish comprises, besides Deposit, the villages of Afton, 
Bainbridge, Harpersville, Nineveh, Stockport, Summit, and, until 
recently, Kirkwood. After 1840 Deposit was regularly visited 
by a priest whose name is now unknown. After him came the 
Eev. J. F. Hourigan, Rev. M. J. Keogh, Rev. M. J. Griffith, Rev. 
M. J. Fournier and Rev. M. J. Stanton. St. Joseph's Church 
was built in 1851. 

When Bishop Ludden was consecrated his first appointment 
was that of the Rev. William W. Pounch, assistant at St. Pat- 
rick's, Binghamton, to be pastor of Deposit. Father Pounch re- 
mained in charge for eighteen years, resigning because of ill 
health in 1904. He was a versatile and prolific writer. His 
work, "The Catholic Church," had a large circulation, and, 
under a non-de-plume, a number of popular novels were written. 
He died September 23, 1905. 

The Rev. Andrew J. Comerford was appointed pastor of St. 
Joseph's, January 21, 1905. He was born in Syracuse on Octo- 
ber 17, 1870, and was ordained priest on December 19, 1896, 
after completing his theological course at the Grand Seminary, 
Montreal. He was assistant priest at St. Lucy's, Syracuse, for 
eight years, when he was transferred to St. John the Evangelist 
parish, of the same city, where he served a few months only, his 
appointment to Deposit following. Under Father Comerford 's 
care the parish is in a flourishing condition and is entirely out of 
debt. The church property is valued at $8,000. 

St. Mary's Church, Kirkwood, was built in 1888 by Father 
Pounch, at a cost of $8,000, a greater part of which was his gift 
to the mission. Kirkwood is thirty-four miles from Deposit, and 
is now attended from St. Paul 's, Binghamton. 



LESTERSHIRE 

ST. JAMES' parish was organized on Christmas Day of the 
year 1900. The first pastor was the Rev. James P. Foy, 
who had been for many years assistant priest at St. Pat- 
rick's, Binghamton, of which St. James' parish is on offspring. 
The first Mass was read that Christmas Day by Father Foy in 
the barn on the church lot, corner of Lester avenue and Main 
street, in the village of Lestershire. On this lot a temporary 
church was built and this has been added to and still serves the 
needs of the congregation. 

Father Foy labored zealously for three years in building up 
the parish, until January 9, 1904, when death removed him from 
his earthly labors. The present incumbent, Rev. Ambrose M. 
Dwyer, was appointed in his place. 

Father Dwyer was bom August 14, 1868, in Utica, and was 
ordained June 8, 1895, after completing his theological studies at 
St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. His first appointment was to St. 
John's Cathedral, September 8, 1895, until January 17, 1904, 
when he was appointed pastor of St. James'. 

The church property consists of the temporary church and a 
parochial house. St. Ambrose 's Church, Endicott, was built dur- 
ing Father Dwyer 's pastorate and is attended as an out-mission 
of Lestershire. 



ENDICOTT 

The Catholics of Endicott have been attended from Lestershire 
since the organization of St. James' parish. In 1907 Father 
Dwyer said Mass each Sunday, first in the village fire house and 
later in a store on North street. 

At the time Father Dwyer began going to Endicott, there were 
only fifty Catholics in that place and Union, and Bishop Ludden 
gave his hearty approval of the move and sanctioned the use of 
the vacant store as a temporary chapel. The new parish was 
formally incorporated in Syracuse in May, 1908, at a meeting be- 



ENDICOTT. 361 

tween the Bishop, Father Dwyer and two lay trustees, Anthony 
Cawley and E. E. Mills, and the ground was immediately broken 
for the new church. 

Father Dwyer had plans made for a permanent church with a 
seating capacity of 400, and such was built. It is a handsome 
structure of Gothic design and is built of red pressed brick, 
trimmed with Indiana limestone. The foundation is of rough- 
faced cut bluestone and the whole is surmounted by a tower. T. 
E. Lacey & Son were the architects and James O'Neill the builder. 

The church was dedicated on Sunday, July 12, 1908, by Bishop 
Ludden, assisted by the Rt. Rev. T. A. Hendrick, Bishop of Cebu, 
P. I. The dedicatory sermon was preached by the Rt. Rev. Mgr. 
J. S. M. Lynch, D. D., of St. John's, Utica, Father Dwyer 's home 
parish. 



WHITNEY POINT 

THE Catholics of this village were attended in the early days 
by the priests named in the Marathon narrative. In 1869, 
the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, Bishop of Albany, appointed 
the Rev. Michael P. Renehan pastor of Whitney Point, to which 
Marathon was added in 1870. A wagon shop, which stood on the 
site now occupied by the "Wagoner house, was purchased for 
$1,300. This building was used as a church for five years. In 
1872 Alonzo Collins donated the land where the church now 
stands. For three years Father Renehan labored amidst the 
greatest difficulties for the erection of St. Patrick 's Church, which 
was completed in 1875 at a cost of $7,000. 

Soon after the completion of the church Father Renehan ac- 
quired the academy building for the Marathon congregation and 
after remodeling it for a church and parsonage, made that vil- 
lage his home. St. Patrick's has since been an out-mission at- 
tended by the priests of St. Stephen's. 

St. Patrick's Cemetery was opened during the pastorate of 
Father Dougherty. During the administration of Father Mc- 
Guire, the present pastor, much has been done for the church at 
Whitney Point. A new roof was put on, the interior repaired 
and frescoed, an organ gallery was built and the approaches to 
the church purchased and improved. About seventy-five fam- 
ilies, mostly Irish, from the town, from Lisle, Yorkshire, Nanti- 
coke, Maine Village, Chenango Forks and other small villages 
attend it. 



CHENANGO COUNTY 



NORWICH 

CHENANGO COUNTY CATHOLICS, SETTLED AT SMITHVILLE 
FLATS, ATTENDED FROM UTICA AS EARLY AS 1826— FIRST 
MASS IN ST. PATRICK'S PARISH READ BY CHOCONUT (PA.) 
PRIEST; FIRST PERMANENT CHURCH BUILT IN 1859. 

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH 

THE first Catholics to locate in Chenango County settled at 
Smithville Flats, in the southern part of the county, in 
1826. During the next ten years. Fathers MeCloskey, 
Quarter and Beecham attended the sick at Smithville, driving 
from Utica, a distance of sixty-five miles ; but although they 
passed through the present site of Norwich village, there is no 
record of any services held by them within the present parish 
limits. Archbishop Hughes also passed up the valley, driving 
from Binghamton to Utica, but did not stop at Norwich. 

In the early forties. Rev. J. V. O'Reilly came from Choconut, 
Pa., and said Mass at a house in the town of Preston, then owned 
by Matthew Murphy. This was undoubtedly the first Mass cele- 
brated in the parish. On subsequent visits. Father 'Reilly said 
Mass in the little village of Norwich, and it is said on several oc- 
casions he was allowed to use the County Clerk's building that 
formerly stood on West Main street. 

After Father Hourigan 's appointment to Binghamton in 1847 
he attended the entire valley, going north as far as Hamilton. 
Mass was said every two or three months in Norwich, especially 
at the homes of James Dunne on Pleasant street, Richard Roache 
on Mechanic street, Michael Conway on South Broad street and 
James Green on West Side Park. 

During the years 1849, 1850 and 1851, Father Hourigan 's as- 
sistant. Father Roache, came to Norwich frequently. He some- 
times remained for several weeks, attending the entire valley 
from here, and boarding with Clark B. Smith on Cortland street. 
As the number of Catholics increased, Mr. Smith offered them 



NORWICH. 365 

the use of the candle factory on Lock street, of which he was a 
part owner. Religious services were held at first in the factory 
itself, but in 1851, the second story of the building was fitted 
into a temporary chapel, and here the faithful worshipped until 
1859, when the first church was built. During these first years 
the people assisting at the Holy Sacrifice numbered about twenty 
souls. 

From 1852 to 1856, inclusive, Norwich was attended from Ox- 
ford, first by Father Callan, and later by his uncle, Father Mc- 
Cabe. During Father Callan 's administration, in 1852, the first 
church property ever owned in Norwich was purchased by 
Michael Conway, Cornelius Conway and Clark B. Smith. It 
consisted of one-fourth acre of land situated on Pleasant street, 
where the present church now stands, and was purchased of 
Deacon Chamberlain for $250. 

In March, 1857, Rev. Charles Brady was appointed to succeed 
Father McCabe, and after a few weeks stay in Oxford, the 
former changed his residence to Norwich. He remained here 
until his death in March, 1863, having as out-missions Sherburne, 
Hamilton, Oxford, Cortland and Solon. The church records 
have been well preserved from the time of Father Brady's ap- 
pointment. 

Father Brady raised money and built the first church on the 
Pleasant street lot, incorporating the property under the name 
of ' ' St. Patrick 's Church Society. ' ' The corner-stone was laid in 
1859 by Cardinal McCloskey, then Bishop of Albany, who also 
preached the sermon. Father Daly of Utica and Father Rooney 
of Cazenovia were also present on this occasion. Father Brady 
died at Norwich in March, 1863, and was succeeded by Rev. 
James McDermott, who came from Glens Falls. He completed 
the interior of the church and labored among the people until 
January, 1865, when he was appointed pastor of Glens Falls, 
where he died in 1902. 

Rev. P. McNulty officiated as pastor from February, 1865, 
to January, 1869. He bought the first parochial residence, a 
beautiful house on Rexford street, now known as the Southworth 
property. This venture, however, proved too great an undertak- 
ing, and the house passed into other hands. 



366 DIOCESE OF SYRACUSE. 

Rev. Florinee McCarthy then came to Norwich for a short time 
and was succeeded in March, 1869, by Rev. Daniel O'Connell, 
late of Cooperstown. Father O'Connell purchased a lot opposite 
the church and built a large parochial residence, but this also has 
passed into other hands. Rev. James P. Harrigan succeeded 
Father O'Connell. His services extended from April, 1875, to 
July, 1882. Rev. William J. Finneran was sent to Norwich by 
Rt. Rev. McNeirny in August, 1882. He was assisted in his 
labors by Rev. Cornelius Shea of Albany, but, owing to ill health, 
he resigned in February, 1883, and Rev. Thomas F. Cullen was 
appointed his successor. 

A lawsuit had been pending for some years over the cemetery 
property, and Father Cullen found the Norwich church almost 
bankrupt. These troubles were soon settled, however, and during 
Father Cullen 's administration of five years the parish became 
more united and prospered exceedingly. In 1887 he purchased 
three acres of land surrounding the church, and enlarged the 
house adjoining the church, which has since been used as a paro- 
chial residence. 

In January, 1888, Father Cullen was appointed pastor of St. 
John's, Utica, and was succeeded in Norwich by Rev. John A. 
Hart of Boonville. On March 14, 1888, two months after Father 
Hart's appointment, the old wooden church was entirely de- 
stroyed by fire. When the debts were paid out of the insurance 
money there was left a balance of $1,000, and this, together with 
the liberal donations of the Norwich people, both Catholic and 
Protestant, enabled Father Hart to begin the erection of a new 
and more substantial building of brick. 

The corner-stone of the new church was laid on July 4, 1888, 
by Rt. Rev. P. A. Ludden. The property was incorporated under 
the new name of St. Paul's Church. The new church was com- 
pleted towards the close of the same year at a cost of about 
$20,000, and was dedicated by Bishop Ludden on December 16, 
1888. 

Since May, 1889, when Oxford became a separate parish, Nor- 
wich has had no out-missions. From a small mission of fifty 
years ago it has become a large and prosperous parish, number- 
ing about 1,200 souls. Norwich Council, Knights of Columbus, 
has a membership of 150, and it has recently donated to St. 



NORWICH. 367 

Paul's Church a beautiful bell, costing $600. The Rosary So- 
ciety of 200 members aid greatly in keeping the church and altar 
in the best condition. The Ancient Order of Hibernians and 
Ladies' Auxiliary, A. 0. H., also have a large membership. 
Father Hart has had the following assistants : Rev. Charles Mc- 
Manus, Rev. J. J. Higgins, Rev. M. Curran, Rev. Gerald Bergen, 
Rev. Thomas J. Conway and Rev. H. F. Curtin, the latter serv- 
ing from April, 1900, until January 1, 1908. 

Father Hart died late in 1907 and was succeeded by Rev. Ed- 
ward R. Prendergast. Father Prendergast was born in Syracuse, 
August 1, 1859. He was ordained June 7, 1884, on the comple- 
tion of his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy. 
He was assistant priest at St. Paul's, Whitesboro, June, 1884- 
January, 1888, and pastor of St. Joseph's, Boonville, from that 
time until his appointment to Norwich on January 1, 1908. 

Father Curtin succeeded to the Boonville pastorate on the ad- 
vent of Father Prendergast to Norwich. 



OXFORD 

THE first Mass said near Oxford was at the home of James 
Moore, a log cabin situated about six miles west of the 
village, in the spring of 1848. The celebrant was Father 
Hourigan of Binghamton, who rode horseback from that city, 
and eight families were in attendance. 

The second Mass was said in the village of Oxford in the home 
of James Flanagan, at which between forty and fifty persons at- 
tended. This Mass was also said by Father Hourigan, who at- 
tended the people of Oxford almost monthly for about two years. 
Father Hourigan formed a parish in 1849 and began to build St. 
Joseph's Church, which was finished in 1851. Father Roach, his 
assistant, took charge of the people in 1850 and attended them 
nearly a year. 

Father Callan was in charge for two years. Then came Father 
McCabe, who maintained a residence in Malone, and then Father 
Brady for two years. In 1865 Father McNulty took charge, but 
after three months moved to Norwich and attended Oxford as an 
out-mission. This arrangement continued until 1889, when the 
Rev. George S. Mahon was appointed resident pastor. During 
his pastorate the congregation acquired a residence for the priest, 
but in 1899 the property passed out of the hands of the church. 
In the same year another house opposite the church was pur- 
chased, and this is now occupied as a parochial residence. 

Father Mahon was transferred to Pompey and the Rev. Rich- 
ard Purcell, the present incumbent, appointed his successor, 
January 25, 1903. Father Purcell was born in Ireland on Feb- 
ruary 27, 1871. His studies for the priesthood were made at 
Louvain, Belgium, and he was ordained on June 29, 1898. His 
first appointment was as assistant priest at St. Vincent de Paul 's, 
Syracuse, where he served from December 25, 1898, until his ap- 
pointment to be pastor of St. Joseph's. 



The Church of the Immaculate Conception at Greene is at- 
tended from Oxford as an out-mission, the villages of Brisbin, 
Guilford and Smithville Flats as stations. 



SHERBURNE 

AT the erection of the Diocese of Syracuse, St. Malachi's 
Church was attended from Hamilton by Rev. William B. 
Hannett, and later by Rev. Joseph V. MacDonnell, the 
present pastor of that village. In 1889 Rev. James J. Ward be- 
came resident pastor of Sherburne, remaining until his death, 
August 17, 1894. Upon his arrival Father Ward found a con- 
gregation of 94 families with the parish affairs in excellent con- 
dition and the entire indebtedness on the church property $290. 

On the death of Father Ward, Rev. John J. Glynn was ap- 
pointed pastor. He died November 11, 1902, and was succeeded 
by the present incumbent, Rev. Anthony J. Logan. 

Father Logan was born in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland, 
August 26, 1866. His studies for the priesthood were made at 
the Grand Seminary, Montreal, where he was ordained December 
22, 1900. His first appointment was to St. Patrick's, Bingham- 
ton, January 1-May 1, 1901. He was acting pastor of St. Pat- 
rick 's, Taberg, the next seventeen months and came to Sherburne 
in November, 1902, after a temporary service at St. Patrick's, 
Syracuse. 

The parish property consists of the church, a parochial house, 
purchased March 3, 1893, and the cemetery, purchased April 19, 
1858. The congregation numbers 80 families at the present time. 



Afton and Bainbridge, both in Chenango County, are stations 
of Deposit, Broome County. 



Catholic Population by Cities and Villages. 

CITIES of the diocese are entered separately. Village parishes are given 
alphabetically. Figures following titles of parishes indicate seating ca- 
pacity. Date of establishment is next given with population — male, 
female, total — following. Figures in parenthesis in second last column 
afford total population, including missions. Missions are given separately, 
following alphabetic order of parish churches. Figures in brackets in sec- 
ond last column signifies number of churches included in total population as 
given; in other words, indicates that no separate returns are made for the 
missions. Thus: Boonville, 500 [3] indicates that in Boonville and all mis- 
sions there are 500 souls. Letter M indicates that place is a mission. Letters 
St indicate that place is only a station (i. e., has no church). The last col- 
umn gives number of children in parochial school, where one exists. 



Bj3 

is 



Population. 



c o 
Eh Pk 



Syracuse 



Cathedral of Im. Con. 
St. Anthony of Padua 

Holy Trinity 

St. John the Baptist's 
St. John Evangelist's 
|St. Joseph's (French) 
I St. Joseph's (German) 

I St. Lucy's 

I Church of Assumption 

I St. Patrick's 

I St. Peter's 

I Sacred Heart 

I St. Vincent de Paul's 



640 
420 
,000 
,000 
500 
4.50 
,000 
,600 
7.56 
600 
.500 
900 



Catholic Population of Syracuse 



Utica I St. Agnes' . .. 

St. Francis de 
I Holy Trinity . 
I St. John's . . . . 
I St. Joseph's . . 
I St. Mary's . . . 
Mt. Carmel . . 
1st. Patrick's . 

Catholic Population of Utica... 



900 
876 
700 
1,500 
1,280 
500 
500 
800 



Oneida I St. Patrick's 

(St. Joseph's 



Catholic Population of Oneida. 



Oswego 



. 1st. John's 

I St. Louis' 

(St. Mary's 

1st. Paul's 

I St. Peter's 



Catholic Population of Oswego. 



950 
324 



786 
1,000 

852 
2,200 

350 



Binghamton ISS. Cyril and Method 

(St. John's 

1st. Marv's 

1st. Patrick's 

ISt. Paul's 



Catholic Population of Binghamton. 



Rome I St. 

ISt. 



Mary's 
Peter's 



Catholic Population of Rome. 



Cortland ISt. Mary's 

Fulton St. Mary's 



800 
1,000 
1,200 

900 



1901 
1891 
1827 
1852 
1868 
1882 
1872 
1843 
1871 
1895 
1892 
1894 



1897 
1877 
1896 
1819 
1840 
1870 
1895 
1849 



1842 
1893 



1870 
1848 
1832 
1862 



1904 
1907 
1887 
1843 



920 
670 



1848 
1835 



1864 
1854 



1,719 

672 

535 

1,315 

1,990 

575 

581 

3,156 

3,050 

2,768 

3,800 

1,995 

1,096 

23,252 

1,720 
1,568 
2,000 
2,910 
1,676 
465 
8.400 
1,881 

20,620 

875 
158 

1,033 

1,464 

586 

1,582 

1,877 

586 

6,095 

345 
778 
900 
1,624 
900 

4,547 

549 
1,895 



1,286 
1,461 



1,964 

743 

627 

1,448 

2,596 

600 

653 

3,397 

3,300 

2,733 

2.100 

1,422 

1,340 

22,923 

1,742 
1.700 
3,000 
2,830 
1,877 
500 
3,600 
1,971 

17,220 

900 
160 

1,060 

1,587 

714 

1.814 

2.031 

532 

6,678 

460 

930 

1,021 

2,024 

900 

5,335 



1,920 
2,558 



1,417 
1,2791 



3,683 

1,415 
1,162 
2.763 
4,586 
1.175 
1,234 
6,553 
6,350 
5.501 
5,900 
3,417 
2,436 

46,175 

3,462 
3,268 
5,000 
5,740 
3,553 
965 
12,000 
3,852 

37,840 

1,775 
318 



3,050 
1,300 
3,396 
3,908 
1,118 

12,773 

805 
1.708 
1,921 
3,648 
1,800 

9,882 

1,187 
3,815 



2,703 

2,740 (2,829) 



Catholic Population, Etc., Continued. 



Place. 


Title. 


9 ^ 
11 


«1 


Population. 


a 

o 

Si 


11 

2w 


1 


_2 


O o 

6 53 


Baldwinsville 




St Mary's 


550 
550 
300 
300 
300 
350 
500 
300 
711 
250 
400 
200 
300 
450 
600 
300 
406 
300 
650 
400 
425 
620 
240 
250 
500 
500 
374 
400 
900 
160 
500 
300 
650 


1851 
1875 
1852 
1852 
1883 
1848 
1874 
1847 
1850 
1872 
1860 
1861 
1878 
1869 
1845 
1869 
1900 
1868 
1854 
1840 
1883 
1857 
1872 
1851 
1873 
1888 
1858 
1856 
1903 
1875 
1854 
1891 
1850 


345 

200 
145 
213 
600 
336 
230 
165 

1,019 
333 
329 
146 
536 
512 
202 
199 
218 
75 
418 
225 
300 
597 
148 
173 
272 
75 
174 
209 

1,064 

148 
200 
500 
1,5211 
105 
185 

50 
154 

57 
116 

14 


460 
300 

128 
198 
400 
413 
296 
141 
816 
325 
421 
157 
644 
558 
189 
269 
270 
105 
422 
275 
327 
694 
165 
170 
197 
100 
204 
239 
887 

80 
192 
168 
641 
1,425 
113 
172 
250 
168 

64 
114 

13 


805 

500 [3] 

273 (491) 

411 (768) 
1,000 (1,300) 

749 

526 (848) 

306 (684) 
1,835 

658 

750 [2] 

303 
1,180 
1,070 (1,288) 

391 (456) 

468 (497) 
490 (795) 
180 (480) 
840 

500 
627 
1,291 
313 (516) 
343 (412) 

469 (647) 

l?i "' 

438 (963) 
1,951 

154 (353) 

340 [2] 

368 (811) 
1,141 
2,946 (3,583) 

218 

357 

300 

322 

121 

230 


1 




St. Joseph's 








Camillus 


St. Joseph's 

St. Agatha's 












Clayville 


St. Patrick's 

St Mary's 




Cleveland 




Clinton 


St Mary's 










Deposit 


St. Joseph's 

St. Francis 

St. Matthew's 

Immaculate Concep. . 








East Syracuse. 
Fayetteville . . . 








St. Mary's 

St James' 




Lestershire 






Marathon 


St. Stephen's 

St. Francis Xavier... 

St. Mary's 

St John's 




Marcellus . . ... 




Minoa 




New Hartford 


... 






St. Paul's 




Oriskany Falls 

Oxford . . 


St. Joseph's 

St. Joseph's 

Immaculate Concept'n 








Pulaski 




Sherburne 


St. Malachi's 












St. Cecilia's 

St. Patrick's 

St. Patrick's 

St Leo's 








Truxton 

Tully . ... 






St. Bernard's 

St. Paul's 






500 ISSO 




Williamstown . 

Jordan 

Chittenango ... 
Willowvale . . . 
North Bay .... 


.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.St 
M 


St. Patrick's 

St. Patrick's 

St. Patrick's 

St. Anthony of Padua 
SS. Peter and Paul . . 
St. Francis Assissi... 

St. Mary's 

Annunciation 

St. Margaret's 

St Mary's . . 


250 
300 
300 
500 
175 
250 
400 
400 
300 
216 
200 

190 
400 
400 

iso 

325 
350 
150 

400 
300 
200 
210 
300 
208 
150 

iso 

280 


1884 
1852 
1883 
1907 
1837 
1856 
1900 
1909 
1852 
1869 
1845 
1854 
1869 
1907 
1868 
1888 
1894 
1884 
1891 
1888 
1892 
1874 
1895 

1850 
1852 
1894 
1882 
1888 
1891 
1889 




Little France .. 
Sylvan Beach . 
Clark's Mills . . 




Homer 

Jamesville 


■ ■ 122 

30 

95 

16 

144 

110 

1? 

74 

29 

70 

73 

259 

576 

52 

115 

236 

299 

49 


""qq 

35 

94 

13 

161 

160 

20 

22 

80 

40 

117 

61 

266 

187 

79 

84 

207 

224 

65 


375 

218 

65 1 

189 

29 

3051 

270 

30 

49 

154 

69 

187 

134 

525 

763 

131 

199 

443 

523 

114 




Redfleld 


Hall 






St. Stephen's 

St. Patrick's 

St. Ambrose's 

St. Patrick's 

St. Paul's 




West Eaton . . . 
Endieott . . . 


.M 
AT 




Whitney Point.. 
Chenango Forks 
Brookfleld (N.). 


.M 
St 
.M 
.St 
. M 
.M 
.M 
M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
.M 
M 
.M 
.M 
.M 

! 




Vern on Center . . 


St Agnes' 




Greene 

Lafayette 

Fabius 


Immaculate Concept'n 

St. Joseph's 

St Paul's 




Skaneateles Falls 
Split Rock 


St. Bridget's 

St. Peter's 




Onondaga Hill . 
North Annsville 


St. Michael's 

St. Ann's 






St. Patrick's 




Hinckley 






St. Leo's 




Kirkwood 


St. Mary's 




Cicero . 

Liverpool 


Sacred Heart 

St. Joseph's 

I 


74 
114 

1 


89 
142 


163 
256 





CLERICAL LIST 

Arranged According to Parish Affiliation 



SYRACUSE. 

Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception 
— Rev. Fathers : Heas, Hackett. Mc- 
Menomy, O'Hara, Walsh. Fournier, 
Hayden, O'Brien, Quinn. O'Shea, Mc- 
Graw, Dwyer, McPeak, Collins ; Bishops 
Ludden and Grimes. 

St. Anthony of Padua — Rev. Father 
Quinn. 

Holy Trinity — Rev. Fathers : Bayer, Reu- 
land. 

St. John the Baptist — Rev. Fathers : 
Donohue, Balfe, Drummond. O'Donnell, 
Radigan, Chartier, Heas, Guillick, 
Guerdet. Mullady, Hackett. Sheehan, 
Duffy, Browne, Bourke, Mullany, Ma- 
guire, Meehan, Mclncrow. Hyland, Har- 
rick. Gahan. Collins. Griffin, Tiernan, 
McGuire, Wllmes, Glynn, Howard. 

St. John the Evangelist — Rev. Fathers : 
John McMenomy, O'Neil, McLoghlin, 
Guerdet. INIuldoon, O'Connell. Lvnch, 
Rellly. Hanlon, Brady, Ward, O'Con- 
nor, Mearns, Moriarty, Clune, Dough- 
erty, Hopkins, Tiernan, McGuire. Sla- 
ven. Quinn. O'Sullivan, Byrne, Dwyer, 
McGraw. Donigan. Shanahan, Chris- 
tian : Bishop Ludden. 

St. Joseph's (French) — Rev. Fathers : 
Guerdet. Quevillon, Robillard, Brauil- 
let. Guay. Thibault. 

St. Joseph's (German) — Rev. Fathers : 
Pickl, Heller, Gehring, Preisser, Steines. 

St. Lucy's — Rev. Fathers : Kennedy, 
Clune, Donnelly. Herrick. Pounch, 
Donohoe, Joyce. Hayes, Farrar, Byrne. 
Comerford, McEvoy, Tracey, Hennessy, 
Farrell. 

Church of thS Assumption — Rev. Fathers : 
Guth. Imama, Roth. Noethen, Schwen- 
inger, Sanderl, Raffeiner, Mueller. 
Lutz : Fathers Minor Conventuals of 
St. Francis : Korten. Zoeller. DePaun, 
Stoller. Dehm. Reich. Rossbauer, Mil- 
ler, Zoller, Lehrscholl, Schweitzer. 

St. Patrick's — Rev. Fathers : Guerdet. 
O'Neill, Shields. Lynch, Smith, Magee, 
Kearney, McEvoy, Herrick, Higgins, 
O'Sullivan, Walsh, Duffy, Donohoe, 
Finley. 

St. Peter's — Fathers of the Congregation 
of St. Charles Borromeo : Manella, Bec- 
cherini, Ostino, Morassi, Cuneo. 

Church of the Sacred Heart — Rev. 
Fathers : Kolaszewskl, Plucinski, Klim- 
ecki, Rusin. 

St. Vinceyit de Paul's — Rev. Fathers : 
Dougherty, Lynch, McGuire. Slaven. 
O'Sullivan, Quinn. Hopkins, Hourigan, 
Purcell, McCormick. Sloan. 



Cahill. O'Donogue, Quarter, Bradley, 
Beecham, Wariath, Patrick McCloskey, 
Bacon, Ferrall, Loughl In, Martin, Stokes, 
George McCloskey, Stokes, McMenomy, 
Howard, Cull, DeLuynes, Ouellet, 
Carahar, Kelly, Clarke, Coghlin. Mc- 
Farland, James Smith, Falvey, McDer- 
mott, Herbst, Maeyer, Daly, McGlynn, 
Carroll, Sheehan, Purcell, McDonald, 
Patrick Smith, Grattan, W. J. Smith, 
J. M. Ludden, Birmingham, L. G. 
O'Reilly. Meagher, Terry, Mullany, 
Brady, Greene, Lanahan, Lynch, Ryan, 
Toomey, Lovett, Castelll, Moriarty, 
McGuinness, Simmons. Cullen, Quinn, 
McManus, Chapuis, McCabe, Lalor, 
Murphy, Staunton, Lunney, Boland, 
Mara, Purcell. O'Connor. 

St. Joseph's — Rev. Fathers : Prost, In- 
ama. Schwenninger, Arnold, Weber, 
Noethen, Maria, Mietllnger ; Fathers 
Minor Conventuals of St. Francis : 
Moczygemba. Korten. Messen, Mutsaer, 
Heller, Kotteiro. Vogt, Ronadowskl, 
Luitz, Zoeller, Neubauer, Corney. Cuc- 
chiarini, Lesen. Bodenberg. 'Dehm, 
Jachetti, Stoller, Ettensperger, De- 
laney, Dumiovich. Gehring, Reich. Elli- 
son, Miller, Doyle, Rossbauer. Goess- 
mann, Matt, Regensburger, Rheiner, 
Epp, Auer, Scharoun, Mayer, Block, 
Thameling, Hellman, Lehner, Maser, 
Richartz, Judge. 

St. Mary's — Rev. Fathers : Veit, Eis, 
Fehling. Friesenburg, Lindenfelt, Goos- 
sens, Wilmes, Lechner. 

St. Mary's. Mt. Carmel — Rev. Fathers : 
Griffin, Doyle, Castelll, Formia, Pelll- 
grinl. 

St. Patrick's — Rev. Fathers : Carahar, 
McDonald, Gahan, Merns. Higgins. Mc- 
Graw, Joyce, Castelli, Mullhall, N. J. 
Quinn, Lee, Provost. W. P. Quinn, 
Hyland, Bogan, Pryor. 



ONEIDA. 

St. Patrick's — Rev. Fathers : Quarter, 
Beecham. Kenna. McDerraott. O'Hara, 
J. M. Sheehan. W. F. Sheehan. Fen- 
nelly. Meagher. Kelley, Flynn, McPeak, 
Shanahan. Sheehan. 

St. Joseph's — Rev. Fathers : Bergmann, 
Goossens, Steines. 



UTICA. 

St. Apnes — Rpv. Fathers : Toomey. 

O'Reilly, Ryan. Moore, Sheehan, 

Shanahan. 
St. Francis de Sales — Rev. Fathers : 

O'Reilly, Stack, Collins, Hourigan, 

Doody. 
Holy Trinity — Rev. Fathers : Pniak, 

Suck. Chyszek. 
St. John's — Rev. Fathers : McQuade. 

O'Gorman, Farnan. Bulger, Shanahan, 

Berry, Walsh, O'Reilly, Cummins, Mc- 



OSWEGO. 

St. John's — Rev. Fathers : Lowery. O'Con- 
nell, Hughes, Dwyer, Hopkins, McCor- 
mick. 

St. Louis — Rev. Fathers : Pelletler, Caru- 
fel. Forget, Charette, Chaput, Auger, 
Chauvln. 

St. Mary's — Rev. Fathers : Foultier, Kev- 
eny, Guerdet. Griffa. Harrigan, Pelle- 
tier, Fournier, Mahon. Doody, Griffin, 
Farrar. McCormick. Hopkins. 

St. Paul's — Rev. Fathers : Donahoe, 
O'Donohue, Rogers, Kenny. Kelly, 
Barry, Lindsman, Shanahan. Collins. 

St. Peter's — Rev. Fathers : Vogt. O. M. 
C, Mozygemba, O. M. C, Dehm, O. M. 
C, Luitz, O. M. C, Lesen, O. M. C, Ot- 
tenhues, Zucker, Wibbe, Preisser, Geyer, 
Stark, Lechner, Helsler. 



CLERICAL LIST— Continued 



BINGHAMTON. 

;SS. Cyril and Method — Rev. Fathers : 
Jankola, Rehak, Pospech, Ponikvar, 
Porubsky. 

St. John the Evangelist — Rev. Fathers : 
McLoghlin, Oley. 

8t. Mary's — Rev. Fathers : Brennan, 
Dwyer, Hughes, Lechner, Higgins, 
Glynn. 

8t. Patrick's — Rev. Fathers : Hurley, 
"Wainwright. Bacon, Beecham, O'Reilly, 
Doyle, Sheridan, Hourigan, Quinn, Mc- 
Donald, Bourke, Herrick, Pounch, Mc- 
Guire, Tiernan, Byrne, Foy, Logan, 
Bustin, Flynn, McLoghlin. 

St. Paul's — Rev. Fathers : Simmons, Pur- 
cell. 



CLINTON. 
Rev. Fathers : Coghlan, Bayard, Peter 
O'Reilly, Donohoe, James O'Reilly, Mc- 
Dermott. 



ROME. 

St. Marri's — Rev. Fathers : Schwenninger, 
Schmitt, Rieger, Roth. 

St. Peter's — Rev. Fathers : Beecham, 
Coghlan, Kenna, Conlon, Howard. 
Byrne, O'Connell, O'Reilly, O'Keefe, 
Craven, Zucker, Shields, Maguire, Bir- 
mingham, Bloomer, Murphy, Cunning- 
ham, Ward, McLoghlin, Carson, Henry, 
Ellis. 

CORTLAND. 
Rev. Fathers : Callan, Brady, McCabe, 
McDermott, Coleman, B. F. McLogh- 
lin, Thomas McLoghlin, J. J. McLogh- 
lin, Donohoe, Bogan. 



DEERFIELD. 
Rev. Fathers : McQuade, Farnon, Bulger, 
Shanahan, Berry, Walsh, O'Reilly! 
Cummings, Cahill, Quarter, Bradley! 
P. McCloskey, Bacon, Burke, Martin, 
Cull, Kenney, G. McCloskey, McMen- 
omy, Coglan, Clark, Arnold, Herbst 
Fitzgerald, Howard, Keating, Thorn- 
ton, Burke, Veith, Eis, Kemper, Geh- 
ring, O. M. C, Valten, O. M. C, Clu 
ver, Vogt, O. M. C, Reich, O. M. C, 
Emmanuel, O. Cap., Lindenfeld, Luitz. 
O. M. C, Graziani, O. M. C, Fresen 
berg, Quinn. 



DEPOSIT. 
Rev. Fathers : Hourigan, Keogh, Griffith, 
Fournier, Stanton, Pounch, Comerford, 



DURHAMVILLB. 
Rev. Fathers : Mozygemba, 0. M C, 
Zanders, O. F. M., Schaffer, 'Pax, 
Lerche Bergmann, Stark, Heidegger, 
Goossens, Steines. 



BAST SYRACUSE. 
Rev. Fathers : Guerdet, Clune, McGuin- 
ness, Quinn, McLoghlin, Moore. 



FULTON. 
Rev. Fathers : Kelly, James Smith, Ber- 
nard Smith, Meehan, Cunningham, 
Greene, Kearney, Lindsman, Dooling. 



FAYETTEVILLE. 
Rev. Fathers : Cahill, McCallion, O'Hara, 
O'Reilly, Donohoe, Early, Joyce. 



BALDWINSVILLE. 
Rev. Fathers : Guerdet, Hackett, McCal- 
lion, Smith, O'Keefe, Lynch, Francis, 
Bayard, Hainault, Kelley, Beecham, 
McGraw. 

BOONVILLE. 
Rev. Fathers : Beecham, Howard, O'Sul- 
livan, Sheahan, Brady, Fitzpatrick, 
Carroll, Harty, Hart, Prendergast, Cur- 
tin. 

CAMDEN, 
Rev. Fathers : Fitzpatrick, Ludden, Bee- 
cham, Brennan, McGraw, Tiernan. 



FLORENCE. 
Rev. Fathers : Beecham, Kelliher, Fitz- 
patrick, Ludden, O'SuIlivan, Walsh, 
Birmingham, Brennan, Greene. 



HAMILTON. 
Rev. Fathers : Hourigan, Callan, McCabe, 
Brady, McNulty, Ludden, Hannett, 
MacDonnell. 



LESTERSHIRB. 
Rev. Fathers : Foy, Dwyer. 



CAMILLUS. 
Rev. Fathers : Heas. Hackett, McCalllon, 
Butler. O. M. C, Purcell, William Car- 
roll, Eugene Carroll, Smith, McDon- 
ough, O'SuIlivan, Ryan, Stack. 

CANASTOTA. 
Rev. Fathers : Collins, Gahan, Stanton, 
Walsh, Slaven, Collins, Flynn. 

CAZENOVIA. 
Rev. Fathers: Hers. Hackett, Cahill, 
Rooney, Carney, Charles Brady, C, A. 
Reilly, J. L. Reilly. B. M. Brady, 
Meagher, Doody, Hayes. 



MARATHON. 
Rev. Fathers : McCabe, Coleman, Mc- 
Loghlin. Hourigan. M. P. Renehan, J. 
J. Renehan, Dougherty, Brady, Mea- 
gher, Smith, Herrick, McGuire. 

MARCELLUS. 
Rev. Fathers : Heas, McCallion, Butler, 
O. M. C, Purcell, Hayden, McDonough, 
M. P. Renehan, J. J. Renehan. 



CLAYVILLE. 
Rev. Fathers : Carahar, Coghlan, Rayard, 
O'Reilly, Smith, O'Connor. Higgins, 
McGraw, Quinn. 



CLEVELAND. 
Rev. Fathers : Beecham. Fitzpatrick. Bir- 
mingham, McGuire, Greene, McGlynn, 
Mertens. 



MINOA. 
Rev. Fathers : Werich, Guth, Guerdet, 
Heas, Inama, Roth, Noethen. Marschal, 
Schweninger, O. S. B., Sanderl, C. SS. 
R., Raffeiner, Fedderman, Tappert, J, C. 
Weber, Maly, Mueller. Schneyder, Ram- 
sauer, O. S. B., Carius, Ritter, Kuen.g, 
Meyer, Wibbe, Fehling, Hengen. A. 
Weber, Pickl. Neubauer, O. M. C, 
Resch. and these Fathers Minor Con- 
ventuals of St. Francis : Lesen. Grazi- 
ani. Gehring, Elison. Reich, Kroeger, 
Regensburger. Ludwig, Epp. Prelsser, 
Eichenlaub, Peberl, Scharoun, Mayer, 
Recktenwald. 



CLERICAL LIST— Continued 

NEW HARTFORD. SKANEATELES. 

Rev. Fathers : Mullany, Prendergast, Rev. Fathers : Heas, McCallion, Butler, 

Grimes, Mahon, Griffin, Reilly, Slaven, O. M. C, Purcell, Simmons, Higgins, 

Quinn, Provost. Conway. 



NORWICH. 
Rev. Fathers : McCloskey, Quarter, Bee- 
cham, O'Reilly, Hourigan, Roache, Cal- 
lan. McCabe. Brady, McDermott. Mc- 
Nulty, McCarthy, O'Connell, Harrigan, 
Finneran, Shea, Cullen, Hart, Mc- 
Manus, Higgins. Curran, Bergen, Con- 
way, Curtin, Prendergast. 



ORISKANY FALLS. 
Rev. Fathers : Bayard. O'Reilly, Reilley, 
McDonald, Cannane. 



OXFORD. 
Rev. Fathers : Hourigan, Roache, Callen, 
McCabe, Brady, McNulty, Mahon, Pur- 
cell. 

POMPEY. 
Rev. Fathers : O'Reilly. O'Donnel. O. S. 
A., Heas, O'Hara, Cahill, Hackett, 
Rooney, Corney, FitzPatrick, M. 
O'Reilly, Simmons. Hayes, Flynn, Ma- 
hon. 



PULASKI, 
ev. Fathers : Beecham. Brennan, Mc- 
Graw. Varilly, Durocher, Provost, Lud- 
den, Tiernan, Auger. 



SHERBURNE. 
Rev. Fathers : Hannett, MacDonnell, 
Ward, Glynn, Logan. 



SOLVAY. 
Rev. Father: O'Shea. 



TABERG. 
Rev. Fathers : Beecham, Kelliher, Fitz- 
Patrick, John Ludden, Walsh, James 
Ludden, McNulty, Bloomer, Hainault, 
Logan. 



TRUXTON. 
Rev. Fathers : Heas, Cahill, Coleman, Mc- 
Loghlin, Joyce, McGuinness, Conway, 
Higgins. 



TULLY. 
Rev. Fathers : McCabe, McCallion, Bar- 
tholomew McLoghlin. Brady, McDer- 
mott. Coleman, Thomas McLoghlin. J. 
J. McLoghlin. Heas, Roach. Cahill, 
Rooney, Brady, Carney, O'Reilly, Sim- 
mons, Doody, J. F. McLoghlin, Byrne. 



WATER VILLE. 

Rev. Fathers : Bacon, McMenomy. How- 
ard. Patrick Carahar, Coghlan, Ber- 
nard Carahar. Clarke, Bayard, Peter 
O'Reilly. Smith, Reilly, McDonald, 
Donnelly, Donohoe, Bustin. 



WHITESBORO. 
Bishops Ludden and Grimes ; Rev. 
Fathers : Mullany, Reilly, Slaven, Pren- 
dergast, Mahon, Griffin, Quinn, Pro- 
vost, Doyle. 



ERRATA. 

Footnote, Page 12, second line, read : "Pope Leo X., by the grace," etc. 

Page 148, first line, Skaneateles Falls, read : "St. Bridget's Church was built 
under the direction of" 

Page 289, fourth and fifth paragraphs, read : "Rev. Thomas W^. Reilly," in- 
stead of "Rev. Thomas W. O'Reilly." 

Page 122. second paragraph, read : "Rev. Thomas S. Flynn," instead of 
"Thomas J. Flynn." 

Page 191, second line, second paragraph, read : "Mahon, from December 20, 
1886, to January 10, 1888," etc. 

Page 102, fifth paragraph, read : "Rev. W. H. McCormick," instead of "W. J. 
McCormack." 

Page 250, fourth paragraph, read : "Rev. John P. Shanahan," instead of 
"John P. Sheehan." 

Page 311, first line, read: "Stittville," instead of "Stillville." 



ADDENDA. 



Morrisville and Pratt's Hollow are stations attended from Hamilton. 
Perryville and Peterborough are stations attended from Canastota. 
Bleecker Station is a station attended from St. Joseph's, Utica. 
Gulf Summit is a station attended from Deposit. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS AND INDEX. 

Page. 

Introduction „ „5 

The Church Among the Indians 7-21 

The Chuech Among the Whites 21-34 

Statistical Table §I9"i 

Clerical List "^ V-r'^ 

Berata 374 

Addenda ** ' * 



PARISHES AND MISSIONS. 



Syracuse— Page 

St. John the Baptist 3 ( 

Cathedral of the Immaculate Con- 
ception 51 

Church of the Assumption <>o 

St. John the Evangelist 69 

St. Joseph's (French) 76 

St. Patrick's 78 

St. Lucy's 85 

St. Joseph's (German) 90 

Holy Trinity (German) 9.o 

St. Vincent de Paul's 100 

Sacred Heart (Polish) 103 

St. Peter's (Italian) lO.o 

St. Anthony of Padua 10 ( 

St. Cecilia's 109 

Utica — 

St. John's 210 

St. Joseph's (German) 232 

St. Patrick's 236 

St. Marv's (German) 243 

St. Francis de Sales' 245 

St. Agnes' 24 < 

Holy Trinity (Polish) 252 

St. Mary's, Mt. Carmel (Italian). 253 

St. Vincent's Chapel 254 

Rome — • „^^ 

St. Peter's 255 

St. Mary's (German) 261 

St. John the Baptist (Italian) . . . 262 
Binghamton — - 

St. Patrick's 344 

St. Mary's 349 

St. Paul's 353 

SS. Cyril and Method 355 

St. John the Evangelist 3.37 

Oswego — 

St. Paul's 174 

St. Mary's 188 

St. Louis (French) 192 

St. Peter's (German) 194 

St. John the Evangelist 196 

St. Stephen's (Polish) 198 

Oneida — 

St. Patrick's 318 

St. Joseph's (German) 323 

Afton 359 

Altmar — St. Mary's 206 

Annsville — St. Ann's 272 

Apulia 155 

Bainbridge 359 

Baldwinsville — St. Mary's 151 

Black Creek (Cleveland) 199 

Bleecker Station 372 

Boonville — St. Joseph's 304 

Boyleston — St. Joseph's 207 

Bridgewater 298 

Brisbin 368 

Brookfield (North) — Maternity B. M. 303 

Camden — St. John Evangelist 291 

Camillus— St. Joseph's 143 

Canastota — ^St. Agatha's 330 

Cassville 298 

Cazenovia — St. James' 329 



Page. 

Central Square 200 

Chadwicks 298 

Chenango Forks 337, 362 

Chittenango — St. Patrick's 830 

Cicero — Sacred Heart 172 

Clark's Mills — Annunciation 284 

Clayville — St. Patrick's 298 

Cleveland — St. Mary's 199 

Clinton — St. Mary's 279 

Colosse — St. Anne's 207 

Constableville 304-6 

Constantia 200 

Cortland — St. Mary's 334 

Deerfield 263 

Deerfleld Hill— Holy Cross 264 

Deerfield- Four-Corners — St. Peter's. 264 

Deposit — St. Joseph's 359 

Durhamville — St. Francis 296 

Dutch Flats 264 

Bast Syracuse — St. Matthew's 169 

Eaton (West) 327 

Empeyvlle 272 

Endicott — St. Ambrose's . . . .^ 360 

Fabius — St. Paul's 124 

Fayetteville — Immaculate Concept'n 138 

Florence — St. Mary's Mt. Carmel. . 267 

Floyd 310 

Forestport — St. Patrick's 306 

Fulton — Immaculate Conception . . . 201 

Gang's Mills (Hinckley) 311 

Greene — Immaculate Conception... . 368 

Groton 155 

Guilford 368 

Gulf Summit 372 

Hamilton — St. Mary's 325 

Harpersville 359 

Hawkinsville — St. John's 308 

Hinckley — St. Ann's 311 

Holland Patent — St. Leo's 311 

Homer — St. Margaret's 336 

Irish Ridge 320 

Irish Settlement 306-8 

Jamesville — St. Mary's 141 

Jordan — St. Patrick'^s 146 

Kirkwood — St. Mary's 354 

Killawog 337 

Knoxboro 302 

Lacona 294 

Lafayette — St. Joseph's 124 

Lee— St. Joseph's 259 

Lestershire — St. James' 360 

Lisle 337, 362 

Little France — St. Francis Aslssi... 200 

Liverpool — St. Joseph's 171 

Maine Village 362 

Marathon — St. Stephen's 337 

Marcellus — St. Francis Xavier 149 

Messengerville 337 

Mexico 205 

Minoa — St. Mary's 126 

Morrlsville 372 

Munnsville 302 



DEC 31 ISOS^" 



TABLE OF CONTENTS AND INDEX— Continued. 



Page. 

Munroe (West) — St. Francis' 2<J0 

Nanticoke 362 

New Hartford — St. John Evangelist 312 

New York Mills 311 

Nineveh 359 

North Annsvllle 272 

North Bay — SS. Peter and Paul 315 

North Brookfield — Maternity B. M. . 303 

Norwich — St. Paul's 364 

Onondaga Hill— St. Michael's 110 

Oriskany 311 

Oriskany Falls — St. Joseph's 302 

Osceola 267 

Otisco — St. Patrick's 161 

Oxford — St. Joseph's 368 

Paris Hill 290 

Perryville 372 

Peterborough 372 

Phoenix— St. Stephen's 204 

Pompev — Immaculate Conception... 112 

Port Dickinson 354 

Port Leyden 307 

Pratt's Hollow 372 

Preble 154 

Preble Hill 155 

Preston 364 

Pulaski — St. John Evangelist 205 

Redfield 267, 271 

Richland 294 

Ridgeville (Irish Ridge) 320 

Sand Bank (Altmar) 206 



Sandy Creek 204, 294 

Sauquoit 298 

Selkirk :: 205 

Sherburne — St. Malachi's 369 

Skaneateles — St. Mary's 147 

Skaneateles Falls — St. Bridget's 148 

Smithville Plats 368 

Solon — St. Bridget's 341 

Solvay — St. Cecilia's 109 

Split Rock — St. Peter's 110 

Stittville 311 

Stockport 359 

Summit 359 

Sylvan Beach — St. Mary's 316 

Taberg — St. Patrick's 275 

Trenton Palls 311 

Truxton — St. Patrick's 340 

Tully — St. Leo's 154 



Vernon Center — St. Agnes' 
Verona 



. . 303 

302 

Vienna 316 

Waterville — St. Bernard's 285 

West Eaton— St. Patrick's 327 

West Monroe (Little France) 200 

West Winfleld 299 

Whitesboro — St. Paul's 309 

Whitney Point— St. Patrick's 362 

Williamstown— St. Patrick's 208 

Willowvale — St. Anthony of Padua 301 

Yorkshire 362 

Yorkville 311 



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